Retro Gaming News

CONTENTS

SPACE HARRIER 4 ZERO WING 30

WEWANA:PLAY APP 11 MEET THE TEAM 33

CONTACT SAM CRUISE 17 CHASE HQ 34

JASON MACKENZIE 20 MARBLE MADNESS 37

TRGN AWARD 25 MILLENNIUM 2.2 39

EMULATOR REVIEW 26 FRIDAY THE 13TH 42

MAIL BAG 29 FIST 2 48

The Retro Games News

Founder Phil Wheatley

Editorial:

Welcome to another month of retro gaming goodness. Along with the usual classic game reviews such as Space Harrier, Contact Sam Cruise and Friday 13th, we also have a couple of unique interviews. The first of which is from a guy called Deepak Pathak who is one of the partners behind the WeWana:Play App which allows you to schedule gaming sessions with your friends. A second is with Jason ‘Kenz’ Mackenzie who is well known in the retro gaming community.

We also have some new sections such as the Mail Bag and the TRGN Award. Please feel free to email your letters to the email above. Thanks as ever to everybody who contributed such as the writers, our proof reader and Logo artist.

Happy Retro Gaming – Phil Wheatley

Essentials Welcome to the fantasy zone. Get Ready!

The first ever samples I heard on my Atari

ST. Yet another fantastic what was the forefront hit from Sega, Space of 3D games. WOW! My friend and I Harrier came to the were in awe. arcades back in 1985. Other systems too Computers can now This game, along with were at the time talk at you as the low Sega's other popular beginning to develop quality distorted titles back then, Super 3D games Sega were sounds came at us. Hang-on, Afterburner not the first to Barely distinguishable and Outrun really did consider 3D as the but cool none the less. revolutionise the way to go, such as We knew what the design of games and Star Wars etc. computer was telling used a technology however, while they us. known as "Super were using full 3D Scaler" to produce objects to emulate "Fun time" cars, spaceships etc.

© The Retro Games News Page 4 computer was powerful enough to reproduce Space Harrier at “Arcade Quality”. Even then, the sound was still not quite up to par. It is, therefore, the Sega Saturn version (1996) that is classed as being the first “Arcade Perfect” port of Space Harrier finally appeared.

So, how does it play? the line graphics and play of move and To start off, the first later filled in blocks shoot, it both level is nice and easy, were a long way off. generated the sweaty just as it should be. Sega's idea was to palm excitement while Control is nice and utilise the detail and giving any audience fluid, all the enemies colours possible in 2D around a chance to are animated and graphics and simply marvel at the moved about the scale them down. If wonderful detailed and screen smoothly and an object was smaller, colourful graphics. the Yu Suzuki the human brain signature pastel would discern it is Yu Suzuki in typical shades give a bright further away than an form also managed to relaxing start. object that is larger. get the controls spot The technique is not on. By using an This soon changes much more analogue joystick and come stage 2. As you complicated than that. an easy to aim system suddenly find out half when firing, the way through that your With 32,000 colours gameplay felt natural. laser cannon can't available on screen, The biggest enemy shoot the stone and the super smooth being your own towers. (Shock among Scalar technology at reactions rather than shock) You now have hand, the game took a clunky system that no option but to dodge off. The mixture of befell many games in these as hitting them Chinese dragons flying the early 80’s. at break neck speed around and the will only lead to being wonderfully fast To give an idea of how knocked flat on your chequerboard floors advanced the back, probably with a hurtling towards you technology used in big headache or at at break neck speed that arcade machine least mild concussion. dragged you into the was, it wasn’t until Perhaps this explains fantasy world that 1994 (9 Years later) the fire breathing Space Harrier created. when Sega launched floating heads. the 32X (32bit add on Add to this the simple to the Megadrive) that Now Stage three. yet effective game finally a home Hmmmmm! I do

Some of the ideas for end of level bosses are interesting, some levels, you only have a limited amount of time before they fly off into the distance while still allowing you to continue to the next stage. For the majority of the bosses, however, the wonder if there was Instead are hexagon best plan is to either any help given while ball type thingys and rotate and fly circles coming up with this metal towers. The sky around the screen world… is replaced by a while firing, for others, further roof, giving a a figure of 8 pattern is Things speed up trapped in feeling and required. further and you have we are moving faster to avoid or shoot (if still. Throughout the game, you are fast enough) many of the original floating and bouncing Now for the bonus foes keep popping up brightly coloured stage. After a clever just to remind you of mushrooms! introduction to prove their presence that Space Harrier is Erm, yes! in fact a serious The ending too feels shooter, you get a very satisfying. After As surreal as it is, it break. A nice ride on a fighting the final boss, looks fantastic and the fluffy dragon (Never you finish off battering ramp-up in speed Ending Story anyone?) with each of the end starts to twitch your Guide him to eat of level bosses in reactions. When you everything in his path reverse order until finally are greeted by and then we are back finally you fly off into a 2 headed dragon into the game. the sunset on top of again, of course the friendly dragon breathing fire. Back to more serious seen in the bonus missiles being fired at stages. Next, Stage 4, things you rather than flashy start to change. We lasers and we are Fantastic. have had our fun but dealing with jets and now we get a glimpse sky scrapers to dodge. So..... Arcade sorted. that the game has Space Harrier was begun to take a However, although converted to an serious turn. Gone are things now start to get awesome array of the pastel colours, fire harder, with a little computers and breathing heads and practice the difficulty consoles. bouncy mushrooms. curve although steep

© The Retro Games News Page 6 These included However, this is where scheme but up come similarities start to the bouncing 8 Bit disappear. Although mushrooms from Game Gear the floor moves stage 3, did someone smoothly, nothing else get a little confused? Released in 1991. the does. The game runs first thing that hits quite slowly in Things change further, you is the 8 bit music. comparison and all the Stage 3 (4 in the The title screen graphics have been Arcade) Instead of doesn't really do it changed. This was Hexagon balls to justice. You need to done to make the dodge, there are these get into the game to characters easier to strange face things see where this has see on the LCD screen and come stage 6 been taken. When but I am not sure this these strange bear looking at this game, change was needed. creatures show up. you do need to bear in mind how limited the Again, due to the It does feel that the hardware is in limited capabilities of Game Gear struggles comparison to its the Game Gear and the difficulty Arcade big brother. graphics engine, there playing the game I are many graphical feel is not due to the glitches in sprite game being hard but masks which means the sluggish controls that you get blocks of and graphics crashes solid colour at times impede what is still a around the enemies. cool game to have if While this doesn't even just from a pure affect the game play, geeky retro sense. it does get in the way Hit start and you are of seeing anything 16 Bit greeted with the behind the graphics Atari ST music you know and crash. love (in 8 bit though) This is where it all the floor scrolling is Strangely, Stage 2 started for me. Seeing lovely and smooth and fools you into thinking for the first time, with an option for a it is the same as in along with Outrun the password to skip to the arcade, with the simulated 3D graphics levels, at least you same floor colour using sprites. have the option to continue where you left off.

Hit start again and you see Space Harrier running just as in the arcades, albeit larger as the Game Gear has a much lower resolution, Sega wanted to keep some detail in the character.

© The Retro Games News Page 7 are better than the Atari ST. Interestingly, they opted to go for a smaller character on screen, however the view point is also lower which makes the playable area limited to 3/4 of the screen only.

The floor scrolling is smoother but what Knowing now what I mind the Atari ST about the playability? do about the version was released capabilities of the back in 1985 (Just 1 Well, after a short Atari ST, I can say year after the arcade) while of playing, you that while the sound considering that many realise that the Amiga effects do the job gamers were still version has the exact quite nicely, the music playing on the 8 bit opposite problem than although very ZX Spectrum, this the Game Gear does. recognisable is very version looked This time, Space beepy. It was an issue fantastic. Harrier moves too that almost all Atari fast. The motion is ST games suffered Interestingly though, accelerated, in other from. For some 2 parts are missing. words, the longer you reason, programmers Stage 4 doesn't have hold the direction, the were very lazy when it the top ceiling and faster he moves but came to sound on the some of the end of the acceleration is too Atari ST. This is level bosses are largely because it had missing a few sprites. on board the same FM However, this can be chip used by all the forgiven as it was a 8bit computers ZX calculated decision to Spectrum, older Ataris keep the speed of the etc. so the audio was game. simply ported from a fast. This along with single source. Commodore Amiga the poor collision detection makes this The graphics however, This version was difficult to enjoy in were not too shabby. released in 1989 as comparison. After a You can tell the low Amiga owners were short while, I wanted resolution instantly upset that such a to play the Atari ST 320 X 200 pixels but great game had version again. Amiga this was used as best missed out their owners must have as possible. Although system. been very the graphics update is disappointed. slow causing a jerky So, how did it feel, the speed was compare? Well, to With that said, it is maintained so the start off with, it is not game over for game flowed as it obvious that the home versions yet. As should. Bearing in sound and graphics new generations of

© The Retro Games News Page 8 home and hand held that are really not consoles came out, 32 bit even worth worrying Space Harrier was about reborn again. Gameboy Advance However, the sprites Sega Megadrive At last! From the are again a bit smaller moment that you on screen. The Megadrive was select Space Harrier Interestingly, they launched with Space from the "Sega Arcade have learned about Harrier 2. This was an Gallery" you feel the controlling Space obvious ploy to hide full power of the Harrier via a digital the fact their new arcade in your hand. controller (the original hardware was still not don't forget was as powerful as their Music – Great analogue). No old arcade machines. accelerating Instead they released Graphics – Great movement, Space a new game. This Harrier moves at a meant that they could First tip, go to options fast but constant rate. use new graphics and and select "Control This makes him much not worry about the type B", for some more controllable. age old comments of reason Sega decided "It's good but...... " that we all want to We have our roof back have reversed in stage 4 and being controls. Yeah, I want given 5 credits means to press down when I that even when you mean up! are trying to get used to the digital controls, The best thing though you still get to have a is it plays really well. decent attempt at Upon playing the ploughing through the game, you could see The playing area takes levels. that some thought up the whole screen, had been put into the all graphics are PS2 design. A level select wonderfully smooth to begin with so you and looks almost In 2004, Space can simply choose arcade perfect with Harrier returned in 3D which level you want only tiny discrepancies on the PS2. This can to begin with. However, Space Harrier 2 just lacks substance. It feels and looks somewhat flimsy in comparison with the original arcade. Instead of lasers, dirty great rings are fired at you. There is no continue option which means you do use the level select when you get to a level that you just can't complete.

© The Retro Games News Page 9 be found in the "Sega pony tail. The dragons All in all, I would give Classics Collection". too have received an the Space Harrier Now, not all games overhaul. Rather than series a: work well in this the typical Chinese updated collection but dragon appearance, TRGN Rating 96% Space Harrier is by far they now look like the best. more modernised Flipping Awesome! dragons with flapping Great gameplay, Although for the PS2, wings etc. The music plenty of replay value. the graphics look too, while still Some of the home dated, the game plays recognisable has been versions could have very well. All the upgraded with techno done with a bit more levels from the arcade beats and some great time spent on them. seem to be there and synth sounds. reproduced using 3D Drew Kenaz models so they are Gameplay has had a instantly recognisable. slight upgrade. There Ranging from the are 2 new weapons, a trees and ships of "Big bad da boom" stage 1 to the bomb that takes out bouncing mushrooms everything for quite of stage 3. Even the some distance and bonus stage is still lock on lasers that here. remind me of the homing missiles in Space Harrier himself Afterburner. A great has undergone a game addition to for makeover and now any Space Harrier fan supports amongst but still doesn't beat other tweaks a spiky the original.

WeWana:Play App Creator

with Sony and This month we have an exclusive Microsoft’s official with Deepak Pathak who is the distributors, I ended up owning a video brains behind the social gaming game store by the name of ‘Get Gaming’. app Wewana:Play. This free app We had a really cool allows you to easily schedule vibe in the store, with regular gaming online gaming sessions with your tournaments and a really loyal existing friends, or connect with community. new gamers on the network. We The vibe was so great caught up with Deepak to get the that Sony and Nintendo supported us latest on this great tool. directly, using our customers for research and lock-in We understand this Back in 2003 after a preview sessions, isn’t your first stint running my late quite an achievement venture in the father’s business, I for an indie store. gaming industry as decided to pack it in you used to run and do something I This lasted until 2007 your own gaming would enjoy. Gaming where it became store, can you tell was getting bigger cheaper for me to buy us more about that? back then and after games from Asda than some conversations direct from publishers.

© The Retro Games News Page 11 didn’t take too regularly myself. long for a turn to end After I get home from (cartridges a long hard day at loaded work, I just want to instantly as kick back, switch off opposed to and play a few games cassettes). I online. found out later that we I’d turn on my console actually started and find none of my by playing a friends were actually Pong type online so I’d spend game a lot on up-to 15 minutes a system called calling and texting ‘Binatone’ them to get online… which was but because they were billed as the as busy as me, they first video could rarely drop what game system they were doing to available for join me. homes. This left me to play The model had online with people become corrupted and I also have fond who were either way it was the beginning of memories of games better than me, the end for Gaming like Outrun, Sonic, people who went retail. Contra spirit and AWOL, or worse, with Zelda, which me and people who found it What were your my brother took turns more fun to make up first experiences of to play. intimate stories of playing video their imaginary games, and which In a nutshell, what relationships with my titles bring you fond is the main purpose mom than actually memories of those of the app and how play the game. times? does it work? It was so frustrating My father liked to do a This app solves a key that I’d throw away lot of things with us as problem for gamers my headset, turn off a family and one of and one which I faced my console and simply the things he liked was video games. Once a week we would all sit down as a family and take turns on a certain game. I distinctly remember playing the Commodore 64 and a game called ‘Oils Well’ as my father liked ‘quick to play’ cartridge games that

© The Retro Games News Page 12 stop playing. We want to make it It then struck me that super easy to connect these guys were I would rather play with your friends and different from more online with my help you to discover intimate Facebook friends, as it’s both friends who play the friends and that fun and social, but it’s same games as you. people wanted to keep such a hassle to them separate. Just organise that, so I What was the like you have friends simply give up. inspiration behind on online gaming That was until now! wanting to create networks who are not an app of this type? connected to you via The app works across Facebook. all gaming networks I was doing some and is currently on work with So I got thinking Android and IOS with Gamestation before about an app that Blackberry and their ill-fated end, would solve the Windows apps coming where I was problem of connecting soon. organising with other gamers tournaments in their (without giving them You simply find your flagship Birmingham intimate access to friends on the app (or store. your life) and allow invite them!) and them to schedule schedule games with Many people would game times with each them within a few meet for the first other. clicks! We also have a time, become friends really cool feature and then leave. Later Of course, there are where if you use your they would ask me to other inspirations for Facebook ID, Xbox ID connect them to this app too, but they or Stream username, others at the event, will become obvious we automatically but that was with some awesome connect you with impossible, as I didn’t features we will friends that are keep a list with all release later this year! already on the app! their gaming details.

Carrying out certain you are earning those the bedroom and into activities within the medals! our living rooms. app will earn you points and medals, For me, online gaming what benefits can Will the app run has given me a great the users gain from alongside the new chance to catch up these generation with friends from achievements? consoles? different countries Absolutely. The app who I would otherwise The achievements has been built so it rarely meet. It helps system is something can run with anything keep certain social we will be really that we choose, circles active whilst developing in the next however we will be giving my hand-eye few months. It adds a announcing some very coordination a serious little fun to the app cool features in the workout. but it also serves a coming weeks that will key purpose. After an really benefit new gen I recently encountered event you can rate console users. an elderly guy playing players based on their online. He was not so ‘fun’ factor, their Gaming used to be great at the game, but ability and reliability. considered an he talked a good This will be key in antisocial activity, strategy, so I asked some upcoming how has the online him how old he was features. aspect changed the and why he was way we play playing. Turns out he The achievements games? was 81 years old. themselves will also help give users kudos I think Nintendo It conspired that his as we begin to release played the biggest granddaughter spends location-based leader- role in changing the a few days with him boards. way we perceive every time she has a gaming as being break from university. We want to reward social. The Pink DS Due to the age gap our best users and single handedly they had little to talk give them kudos, brought a generation about so instead of maybe in the form of of girls into gaming watching her play Call customised (something ‘inspired’ of Duty, he got backgrounds, special by the Pink Motorola involved. This led to status or even really Razr by the way). them having a weekly cool rewards. Those same girls were game where they Achievements are a then influenced would catch up and way for us to keep further by the launch talk whilst they track of our most loyal of the Wii, which enjoyed themselves users, so make sure brought gaming out of from different ends of the country.

© The Retro Games News Page 14 been far from the There will be an case? upgrade option in future for people who We have users of all want the most unique ages of course, but features such as the age group that custom backgrounds, tops our graph is but the core of this actually 22 year olds. app will always remain 29 and 32 year olds free. are also well represented by our The app is ever user base with evolving, what new another surprising features might we peak for 44 year olds. expect to see in the future? It’s perhaps too early to make firm In the short term you conclusions as to why will be seeing a very this may be, but it cool ‘gaming groups’ does suggest the feature added during existence of ‘gaming July. This will allow

generations’ or stages you to create ‘clans’ or The girl’s father then in life where gaming is ‘groups of friends’ and wanted to get involved prominent. invite them all to an so now every week, Most apps of this event in one single you have the girl, her quality require click. This feature is father and her some kind of already exciting many grandfather playing payment but you major publishers. online together and decided to make talking to each other. this available for In time this will be All helping bring the free. What was the opened out so that family closer together main reason for you can schedule and all naturally that? game times between organised using our different ‘clans’ or app Wewana:Play ! We want every gamer ‘groups of friends’.

in the world to be on Mobile gaming is this app, from the girl You will also see our helping make down the road who Blackberry and everyone a gamer and plays once a month to Windows apps being I believe that will only the people who never rolled out over help drive greater leave their bedroom. summer alongside the numbers and greater A paid app would gain publication of our API diversity within online traction with hard- to allow intelligent gaming. core gamers but leave people out there to

out the mass of casual create amazing apps, It would be easy to players who have using our service as a assume that only been largely ignored. backbone. teenagers would We want to capture Interestingly the API use an app of this that missed is actually our most nature, but demographic. requested feature. apparently that has

Ah, this is one of my personal projects that was born out of another frustration within gaming. As a newcomer to the Video Gaming Events world I found it very difficult to know what was going on. There is no one centralised site that has all the information in a clear, In the longer term, I easy to use manner. am sworn to secrecy on some many things Since I needed to be but what I can tell you at many such events, is that we have many I found it very time direct connections to consuming and major gaming frustrating so I just publishers who will be decided to solve the partnering with us to problem once and for bring users unique all. game related features. It’s really exciting I created the site: stuff! http://videogamee We are also very vents.info interested to hear from our users, as we It’s a work in progress want to build features but is already useful. that are useful to It’s being supported them. So please feel by a number of big free to give us all your players within the suggestions via the gaming world, so will You can grab the ‘Feeback’ button be filling out with app from the links within the app. I events over the next below. Go for it, it’s personally read every few weeks and I hope free and fun to use. piece of feedback we the community will receive. help keep it up to date too. You like to frequent gaming events and www.wewanaplay.com/app have recently created a service which keeps people App Store: http://bit.ly/wewanaiOS informed of planned Google Play: http://bit.ly/wewanaAndroid

Essentials Back in the mid- eighties Microsphere, consisting of husband and wife team David and Helen Reidy and graphic artist Keith Warrington made year, yet also, the grabbed gamers by some celebrated and least commercially the tails of their iconic games for the successful: Contact metaphorical trench ZX Spectrum. Games Sam Cruise. coats and offered a such as Wheelie, perspective that had Skool Daze and Back Set in a film noir, never been realised to Skool have become Samuel Dashiell before on this humble cult classics within the Hammett derived machine. retro community. world of gangsters, Strangely however, dames, molls and The game starts with the final game they fedora wearing an all too familiar ever released was one detectives, this 1930’s hard-boiled detective of the most well detective side- intro: “It was just received titles of the scrolling adventure another day at the

Intriguingly, the finer points to playing Contact Sam Cruise are often missed when you recall playing it nearly twenty seven years later. However, the gift of hindsight enables the contemporary player to appreciate just how well the limited Sam Cruise Detective two dimensional side- hardware was Agency. I was scroller. The buildings, manipulated to teaching the roaches for example, can be produce so polished a to…”, then follows the entered, and you’ll see game. Thus a well opening scene, and Sam in the deserved ‘nod’ goes the first look at the background, as he towards the coding quasi 3D world that climbs the stairs genius of Mr Reidy. Sam inhabits. As the through the windows Further points of note game and thereby the as opposed to a cut- are the red crosses case progresses, the out section of the along the bottom of player will find front of the building; the screen which themselves leaping likewise, if you exit on represent first aid kits. away from snipers the roof, you can then These are subtracted hidden in dustbins; climb back down the after Sam is hit by a pulling fuses out of fire escape in the bullet from the mob. fuse boxes to cut the foreground. In When they’re gone its lights; partaking in addition, each of the curtains for old Sam. classic rooftop chase rooms of the Additionally, in-game scenes and being accessible buildings cash, or ”bucks” are arrested by the police. can be entered and rewarded to players There’s intrigue; objects within the who complete shoot-outs; the mob; rooms, corridors and consecutive elements the Fat Manat number so on can be in the story arc and 15 and disguises. manipulated. Light oddly enough, switches can be accumulated by The game is drawn in turned on or off, somersaulting onto a a beautifully comic plunging the room, or windswept dollar bill book style using Keith the floor into complete as it passes you by on Warrington’s much darkness, phones can the street. However, improved Skool Daze be answered or picked the amount of money engine, and features up to call a number the player holds on some very ingenious and the other their in-game person methods of bringing inhabitants of the decreases over time, three dimensions to a cityscape can be or when Sam is mugged during bouts

Another point of note are the in-game mechanics, and the fact that the antagonists can be temporarily fooled by a ludicrously comically disguised Sam. Telephones, as I’ve previously mentioned, can be picked up and dialled with amusing consequences; you can drop off a building and on to the head of cops, only to suddenly a passing gangster, or The game oozes find yourself being you could simply charm, style, humour physically picked up punch the living and atmosphere. It’s by a mobster, taken daylights out of a absorbing and a to the top of a tall passing pedestrian, all pleasure to look at, building, and years before GTA but, it’s also brutally unceremoniously existed! All this difficult to complete chucked off. It’s a functionality is and can leave you sheer delight in a non- crammed within the with your head buried sadistic fashion. limited memory deep in your hands capacities and after several hours of Contact Sam Cruise is functions of a play. Then again, a wonderful game Spectrum. It can only that’s half the fun of from a wonderful era be described as pure it. You could be doing of gaming. Original, genius when you think great one moment, fun, demanding, long and hard about wearing a disguise clever, witty and it. and slipping past the frustrating - what more could you possibly ask for?

Rating: 95%

INTERVIEW WITH JASON ‘KENZ’ MACKENZIE

INTERVIIEW WITH JASON ‘KENZ’ MACKENZIE

INTERVIEW WITH

JASON ‘KENZ’MACKENZIE

people are still Jason MacKenzie , or Kenz as he pushing the machine often signs himself as, has been above and beyond its limits with new effects contributing to the retro gaming and new graphic modes. Also, as a community for many years. software publisher it’s Chances are you already been to great to see new games being written one of his sites, bought one of his for old systems – some of which that products or at least, bumped into are easily as good as him via the social sites. We (if not better!) than a lot of releases from caught up with him to find out ‘back in the day’. I’m also interested in new more about his gaming passion. hardware innovations for retro computers – I.E. devices that let It is clear you put a I’m just constantly you load you software lot of time and being amazed at what from an SD card or effort into the retro people are coming up that enhance a retro gaming scene, what with for retro systems system in some other keeps it fun and – even now. I’m a way – things like that interesting for you? keen follower of the are always fun to play C64 demo scene and with. it’s incredible that

© The Retro Games News Page 20 Commodore 64 is my main 8-bit computer love and I enjoy firing it up for a game of Uridium, Wizball or IK+ etc. But then I’ll get the urge to play a load of Amstrad CPC games, or Spectrum games, or Amiga games! It all depends on what mood I’m in – but more often than not it’s the C64 I return to, mainly due to have been to the SID sound chip Why do you think forgotten in a lot of which I adore. there has been a big modern titles. interest in retro What do you think games over the past What first got you about modern few years? into playing games, games looking more and what system like films than video I guess a lot of people did you first get games? like playing the old into? games for nostalgic I don’t really have a reasons, and it’s nice I’ve always been problem with modern to see so many new fascinated by games looking like games appearing on computers and arcade films, as long as they Android / iOS that are games but it was are PLAYABLE. The inspired by - or are seeing my cousin build recent Tomb Raider direct remakes - of a Sinclair ZX81 from game looked classic titles. New kit form and then run absolutely beautiful hardware has made it a hangman type game and played excellently a lot easier to play on it that got me into – they got the combat retro games (I.E computers in the first spot-on and the film- through the Wii virtual place. The ZX81 was like story was really console) which is a my first ever machine, immersive, I was very great way for people followed by a ZX impressed with that to get a retro fix Spectrum, Amstrad one. Aliens: Colonial without having to own CPC, Commodore 64, Marines on the other the original hardware. Commodore Amiga hand is a good As well as the and then various example of how NOT nostalgia side of consoles and PC’s etc. to do film-like games. things, retro games Even though it’s based are just so much Which old games do on one of my favourite damn fun! As they you keep going films and had a lot of didn’t have state-of- back to time and neat stuff in it, it was the-art visuals back time again? an overall then a lot more disappointing emphasis was placed I kind of go through experience with on gameplay, phases with different terrible Alien AI, something that seems machines. The annoying characters

© The Retro Games News Page 21 and a very poor finale. of famous people from I’m not one of these the scene. I’m a huge Do you like to people who ONLY likes fan of C64 music and collect old games retro games, I’m am very pleased to and systems or just happy to embrace new have met people like use emulators technology and am Rob Hubbard, Martin instead? very much looking Galway, Ben Daglish, forward to the PS4 David Whittaker, Fred Where possible I like when it’s released Gray and Jeroen Tel to play old games on (but not the XBone – along with famous the original hardware. Microsoft have programmers like Jeff Emulation, although seriously dropped the Minter, Archer very good these days, ball on that one!) Maclean, Sandy White just isn’t the same. and even the elusive You can’t beat a good Which famous Matthew Smith and blast on Uridium with people have you dearly departed it’s gorgeous 50fps met from the scene, Jonathan ‘Joffa’ Smith. silky smooth scrolling and anybody you I actually have a C64 played on a real C64 would like to meet? that I have taken to a hooked up to an old lot of these events CRT portable TV, just Due to my and it’s now plastered like the good old days. involvement in a lot of with signatures from I do tend to use retro events over the my heroes. Who emulators more for years I’ve been lucky would I like to meet? software development enough to meet a lot Jeri Ellsworth.  and graphics for new

© The Retro Games News Page 22 Psytronik releases – passed away. All the various other retro it’s a lot easy to shows are available podcasts I came up manipulate pixels in for download from with my own formula Photoshop and then www.binaryzone.org/p for doing podcasts. port the completed odcast/ Some of the other image back onto the shows I’d heard had C64 or Speccy. How did you get the far too much talking idea to do your own between tunes so I set Please tell us about podcast? myself a 30 second your One Man and (ish) limit of talking His Mic project It started with me co- between tracks. I also hosting a live radio tried to make them It’s a series of 20 show on funny and informative audio podcasts www.slayradio.org where possible – devoted to either called ‘The Z-Show’ without mucking music from a certain with my good friend around too much as videogaming system, Alistair ‘Boz’ Bowness. that can become series of games or by This lasted for over a annoying. I also came a certain videogame year but then Boz up with the idea of musician. There are moved to Sweden. I giving each show a shows devoted to enjoyed doing the theme (either devoted music by Martin shows but had neither to a certain musician Galway and Tim Follin, the time nor or series of games) so shows devoted to equipment to do any you get something music from the SNES, more live shows different with each 48K Speccy, myself so I decided to show. It takes ages Megadrive, Amiga and release my own to write, record and PSone etc – along downloadable shows edit each show (I’m a with a couple of which I could record bit of a perfectionist tribute shows to and edit as and when when it comes to respected people from I had the chance. audio editing) but the the scene who sadly After listening to nice feedback I have

© The Retro Games News Page 23 audio CD that will contain music from as many of the Psytronik releases as I can squeeze onto a shiny compact disc. I’ve also got FOUR new Psytronik titles almost ready for release – these are Flubble & Squij (C64), Sheepoid DX + Woolly Jumper (C64), Ultimate Cops (C64) and Theater of War (VIC-20). Away from Psytronik, I’ve been developing a new show to replace my ‘One Man & His received about the titles for retro Mic’ Podcast. This will shows makes it all computer systems. be a series of YouTube worthwhile. These are brand new shows called ‘One Man titles that have & His Cam’ (see what Please tell us what professionally I did there?) featuring things people can packaged so that they retro reviews, expect to see at look exactly like hardware features and your site? classic game releases general retro from when 8-bit shenanigans. I have www.binaryzone.org is computers ruled the no idea when this will basically a gateway to Earth. You can also be happening as my main four sites. find the One Man & Psytronik Software is The Binary Zone site His Mic podcasts on taking up all my spare contains software the site – 20 complete time at the moment! from my old C64 shows are available to Public Domain download. software library that I have been running What things can we since 1989 along with expect to see from various other bits & you in the near bobs, then there’s the future? lovely Binary Zone Interactive Retro There’s plenty of Store – from here you exciting things in can purchase lots of development here in retro goodies includes the Zone at the music CDs, retro moment. This year I scene DVDs and all will be celebrating the the Psytronik Software 20th anniversary since releases. the launch of www.psytronik.net is Psytronik Software so the software label that I’m working on a I use to release new special ’20 Years’

This month we are introducing a new feature where we salute somebody for making a notable contribution to the retro gaming community. This award is a token of our thanks to those who have spent many hours making other people happy and providing value and entertainment.

This month we would like to award Steve Benway from YouTube. He is a prolific poster and always has something interesting to say. His views can sometimes divide people’s opinions, but there is nothing wrong with that is it can often lead to an interesting debate.

Not only has he given many people pleasure with his ‘off the cuff’ gameplay videos, he has collected and preserved many classic computers and consoles, most of which he has shown to his audience.

So, without further ado, Steve we present you with this month’s TRGN Award for your contribution to the retro gaming community.

You can see his videos at: http://www.youtube.com/user/SteveBenway

YouTube Special Mentions

Here are some channels I have subscribed to which I think are worth a mention. Check them out and subscribe if anything catches your eye.

1 - http://www.youtube.com/user/Polaventris Great channel which features many 8 bit games, along with homebrew titles as well.

2 - http://www.youtube.com/user/DlNKYDANA A wicked channel which concentrates on pickups, often from flea markets as well as gameplay reviews.

3 - http://www.youtube.com/user/DerSchmu An awesome one stop shop for long play C64 videos. Also check out his great website at: http://archive.org/details/C64Gamevideoarchive

4 - http://www.youtube.com/user/marlinlee A really nice channel for early Atari games, many for the 2600. Also includes some fan made games from the homebrew scene.

Phil – Ed.

C64 FOREVER & AMIGA FOREVER purpose of this review, I will concentrate on the C64 version. Obviously you would use the Amiga version to run Amiga games.

The first thing that strikes you about the software when it first loads, is how simple but modern the interface looks. You feel yourself breathe a sigh of relief when you see it is all menu and icon driven, no technical knowledge required here. Also the emulator comes pre-loaded with a selection of games so you can jump straight in and start playing. While on one hand speeds of computer you can’t beat playing clock speeds. What makes the a classic game on the interface even more system it was Thankfully things have user friendly is the originally written for, moved on and people fact that when you there are times when can now play classic click onto a title (yes, it is more practical games on their PCs it is compatible with a and convenient to use that run virtually the mouse), you get a an emulator. Not only same as if on the screenshot of the will the games be ten original hardware. game you wish to times quicker to load, Two such examples load, along with but your room will be are C64 Forever and information about the a lot tidier too! Amiga Forever; the game itself. This is titles of which I’m wonderful from a The problem however sure portray preservation point of with emulators in the exactly what past, is some of them they do. required a certain level of technical Both knowledge to get the applications games running. Also essentially the sound and behave the graphics could look same way as somewhat different to far as the original and not all functionality of them could cope is concerned, with the varying so for the

© The Retro Games News Page 26 session in a window, or you can set it to full screen. When in full screen mode, it’s almost as if you have jumped 20 or 30 years in the past, as it looks just like it did back then. In fact it’s probably better as most of us were using flea bitten CRT TV, all of 14 inches if you were lucky!

By the way, don’t be concerned that some view and the and feels like a of the games have a application will allow Playstation controller, ‘cracked game’ intro you to put in your own but any type of PC sequence, in many screenshots and joystick would work cases this was information about fine. Amazingly the something that games you download keys will work even if needed to be done in to the emulator. the original title was order to load the joystick only! You are game onto the Once the game loads, presented with a system. There is you could be excused choice of keys to use, nothing illegal about for worrying about such as arrow keys for this and the authors of joystick and key example. the emulator have controls, as most checked this out emulators in the past Regarding the beforehand. have struggled with performance, I was this. They have either amazed how smoothly been keys only, which it ran the games, and is a problem as some my home desktop is at C64 games were least 6 years old joystick only, or they running XP. The simply wouldn’t work graphics were spot on at all. However, at and the sound was the bottom of the exactly as it should screen, there is a be, it really felt like it panel where you can was running on the Not only does the select whether you original Commodore. emulator allow you to want to use keys, The major difference run games, but you joystick along with being my PC won’t can run other which port you want crash if somebody Commodore systems to use, or which keys turns the light or too, such as the combinations. kettle on! Commodore Pet, Vic 20 and Commodore Personally, I bought a Another nice feature is 16. There is also a ‘joystick’ which looks you can run the collections of demos, which is great for

© The Retro Games News Page 27 anybody into the consider the years of to give you hours of demo scene, there is a work the guys have entertainment. video section put into this, I think containing the price is very The Amiga version documentaries and a reasonable. I’m sure presents you with 3 gallery section too. many of you would different price points Excellent value for like the opportunity to depending on how money. support them. many games you want included, along with supporting videos and historical information.

These are both truly awesome pieces of software, so for anybody wanting a quick and effective way of playing classic Commodore games, then C64 Forever and Amiga Forever are the best on the market. It also makes life much easier for those wanting to record gameplay videos, possibly for the use of uploading to YouTube. I personally have used it to for doing video reviews and they worked out great.

TRGN Rating: 97%

The Emulators can be purchased at:

Talking of price, it is The Amiga version is www.c64forever.com an absolute steal! In also excellent, and I fact, there is a free used it to have a few www.amigaforever.com version you can goes on Pac-Mania download which does and Kick Off 2. Amiga have limited features, games are harder to Feature by: Phil Wheatley but it can be upgraded emulate and so the at any time. You can developers have been get the full very upfront in saying downloadable version that not 100% of the for $14.95, or you can games will run, but get a boxed version the majority of them for $19.95. When you will, certainly enough

© The Retro Games News Page 28 MAIL BAG as a personal Games News for perspective point of some time to come. view, which I feel most reviews lack PW - Editor these days. How do you feel Retro Games about including I Magazine continues reviews of fan- have been a to keep me translated games dedicated and interested and and hacks like faithful reader of always looking Castlevania II: this awesome retro forward to the next Redacted? gaming newsletter issue. from the start. A great read and Also, I would love to

highly recommend it see an article on Amazing reviews to all the gamers on retro carts if you or from gamers from you tube and someone you know all over, and very through out every informative and has had any gaming community constantly learning experience with online, new things about them if there are no whether retro or retro games all the modern, its great legal issues with time, and gaming history, and that. I wouldn't the newsletters are it reaches all ages of mind writing it but I sitting right on my video gamers young have not had any coffee table and old. alongside with experience myself

Guinness Book Of with them, although Chuck of Hwc1218 World Records: The Of Charlotte, NC I am very interested Gamers Edition, my http://www.youtube in them. two favorite readers .com/user/hwc1218 I constantly pick up Duston Justice (by and read over and Promoter of Gamers email) over again. I Alley Game Store. specially want to This is a great idea https://www.facebo thank Michael Smith ok.com/GamersAlley and something I for introducing this NC?fref=ts would like to include fantastic newsletter in the near future. to me, a strong In the mean time, influence in the Carlos Orraca (by gaming community check out this video email) on you tube and which has some myself. Thanks very much repro carts: Carlos for your kind http://youtu.be/ETY Each game review is words. We hope 79zO1wmY very insightful and you enjoy The Retro full of detailed PW - Editor information as well

Essentials All Your Base Are

Belong To Us!

Ever seen this internet Meme? Well this is where it originates from. Zero Wing shooter, it appeared on the So gameplay… At first was developed by Toaplan Mega Drive in 1991. During glance, the action is not and published by Taito. the conversion some of the super intense but as the Originally an Arcade original in-game Japanese player progresses the text got slightly ‘lost in difficulty ramps up nicely. translation’ in the game’s There are deceptively intro. This led to several ‘boring’ sections, but in funny lines, including the moments the player is now infamous example bombarded with enemies above; but let’s not or has to negotiate tricky overlook the fact that Zero obstacles. Zero Wing varies Wing is actually one of the the action, keeping any best Megadrive shooters budding pilot on their toes. around. Read on and you’ll A refreshing approach when find out why! standard shooters just

In-game power-ups are a speed increase, three different types of weapon and a shield grenade. However, that’s not all. The player also gets a tractor beam which grabs enemies for use as either a shield or guaranteed. But fear not, caliber. a projectile. The shield checkout the ‘tips and grenade is grabbed in the tricks’ below for a surefire There are however, a few cons: Backgrounds are sadly same way, but takes more method of procuring this! hits and can be used as a not parallax-scrolling, and smart bomb. But wait… Graphically there are better there’s a little slowdown there’s more! looking Megadrive shooters when the screen gets too out there but Zero Wing is busy (but this doesn’t When I first owned this still very polished and happen very often). If you game the instructions pleasing to look at; can get hold of the infuriated me by saying I backgrounds are well laid MAME/arcade version, could get a ‘secret weapon’ out and non-repetitive. you’ll see better visuals yet omitted to tell me how.. Movement is smooth and with more detail, but I managed it by fluke just screen resolution clear. strangely with very inferior once and I was overjoyed! Enemies and bosses are fun sound. Unfortunately I lost my life and original, indicating the in about three seconds and fact that a real collaborative Speaking of sound, its the power up was gone. effort had been made to arguably very rare to find great audio in retrogames. Once again my Joypad produce a game of this found itself flying across the room and into a wall as a consequence of a sudden attack of teenage rage!

Thankfully, hard-core retro gamers have shared their research on forums and YouTube, so you too can gain the coveted secret weapon should you so wish. This (purple) power up is randomly spawned and not

© The Retro Games News Page 31 That said, Zero Wing’s tunes and audio are all very For a ‘cheat’ menu: Pause, (by Tatsuya Uemura, who satisfying. A hidden gem, then press C, Up, B, Down, composed music for underrated and overlooked, A, Left, Right, B, C, C, Right, “Hellfire”) are well written yet very well put together, Left, Right, A, Down, Start. and memorable. You’ll be instantly playable and There are various options, humming along in no time! frankly just plain fun! including level select. If you Sadly it does fall slightly set ‘Active’ to number 1 and Zero Wing may have got its short on some FX (the ‘Power’ to number 3 then weapons fire sound effect place in internet culture you will start with level 3 does get a tad annoying from a mistake in weapons, and your next translating Japanese. after a while), but generally power up will be the level 4 However, it deserves it’s very inventive and ‘secret’ power-up! Wooo! recognition as a game in its unique to the game. own right and a damn good If you have a ‘turbo fire’ Overall I can’t give Zero one at that. Zero Wing option on your joypad, you Wing full marks, but I can doesn’t need the Meme. If can trick this game into pretty much doubling your guarantee that its minor you haven’t played it, fire-rate (most noticeable flaws won’t stop you loving shame on you, repent your when you move close to it. The sense of progress, sins and play it now! your target) great for distance (in time) between inflicting damage! life loss, responsive controls Rating 80% and good feedback from Tips and Tricks: the uniquely styled visuals

Phil Wheatley Editor

IT Trainer by day, and editor through the long hours of the night, has long had the dream of putting a computer magazine together. Currently playing Lords of Midnight, Uridium and Skooldaze.

David Hayward Duston Justice Writer Writer

David Hayward is a freelance He’s been playing video games technology writer for web and since the age of 4 when he first print. A regular contributor to played Donkey Kong on the Coleco Micro Mart, Linux Format, CNET, Vision. He got his NES the TechRadar and formally, PC following year, and the rest is not Utilities. He's also never quite history yet, but managing to completed Fairlight, although he rack up many hours of gaming.. keeps trying.

Drew Kenaz Graham Roberts Writer Sub Editor & Proofing

Uni Lecturer in a range of Graham is an English teacher by subjects including Games trade. His passions include retro Hardware programming. Creator gaming; gaming in general; of the Thor Games console used tinkering with consumer electronics for teaching. CEO of Hexfreq and making PCs. He doesn’t really HexSweet Design currently have a favourite game of all time working on a few retro IOS as it often changes. However, at games. Fave classics: Arcade, the moment he is particularly enjoying revisiting Chase HQ and Space Harrier. At home the Lucasfilm series of games on the Snes (Super Chucky Egg and Streets of Rage 2 Star Wars etc) which he is playing through an emulator.

Robert Joy Alex Reeves Writer Writer / Blogger

Current employment: Global His name is Alex but his friends distribution company, call him Roly and has his own Staffordshire. U.K. blog retrogamesnow.co.uk. Hometown:- Tamworth, Along with his reviews of classic Staffordshire. U.K. arcade, home computer and Favourite classic: oooh, surely console games, he is building a all.. However has to be Phoenix database of retro game stores in by Taito. Reason being it has all the essence of a the UK. classic. Quote: "Follow your passion and it will find you."

The cabinet itself was Essentials an elaborate affair, the stand-up version having both foot pedals and a wheel, as well as the hi/lo gear selector with turbo boost button. Sirens would blare from the

and the film Beverly machine in attract mode and during the hase HQ was an Hills Cop, your role is C game, accompanied arcade racer that was to chase the bad guys through busy streets by flashing very much of it’s era, lights above the so 80’s in its style that and bring them to justice by ramming screen. it could have been Insert a coin and you directed by Jerry them off the road. So for a brief moment, would be given your Bruckheimer, starred instructions by police Eddie Murphy, you felt like you were the star in a buddy dispatcher Nancy, and had a soundtrack including the by Harold cop movie – that was the magic of Taito’s description of the Faltermeyer. Playing felon you are to like cross between 1989 classic Chase HQ. apprehend and the Sega’s classic OutRun vehicle he is driving.

© The Retro Games News Page 34 Jump in your Black Porsche 928, floor the pedal in low gear, and you are off down the road in pursuit of your target, accompanied by blaring 80’s synth music. A graphic shows your proximity to the car in front as you dodge traffic to the accompaniment of shouts from your partner.

Passing traffic on tarmac covered sections, via branching paths that take you through part finished roads littered with barricades and cones, you soon catch up with the criminal. Now you need to ram his vehicle to damage it, the level of damage indicated on a progress bar at the top of the screen. Keep your eye on other traffic and obstacles as the guy to the side of the road in flames. Nancy in in front can get away and taken away in dispatch will from you if you are handcuffs, his then present you with not careful, and each expensive sports car a new criminal to collision causes a slight skid, using up precious seconds on the countdown timer. This is where the turbo boost comes in, allowing you to quickly recover the distance between you and the target vehicle before he gets away. Deliver the requisite amount of damage before the timer runs out, and the criminal is forced

© The Retro Games News Page 35 There were also some arcade sequels in Special Criminal Investigation, and Super Chase: Criminal Termination, but neither had the impact of the original Chase H.Q. The dangerous driving mechanic has been seen throughout video game history, with games such as Road Rash on the Sega Megadrive, and more recently the Burnout apprehend in a faster, always going to be series of games on the more robust vehicle. challenged, given the XBOX. Chase HQ Through the game, if powerful graphics and however remains the you have either the audio, not to mention most perfect and skill or the cash to the bespoke driving polished arcade racer, keep playing, you will controls of the original something that has to encounter sports cars machine. The rubber be played on an ranging from a keys, limited graphics original cabinet to Lamborghini Countach and tinny sound of really be appreciated, to a Lotus Espirit the Spectrum would and it’s one of my all- Turbo – clearly the not therefore on paper time favourite arcade criminal element have make a good home for games. great taste in getaway a Chase HQ vehicles, and a few conversion. The quid to spare. Each reality was however a enemy was more different story, and difficult than the last whilst not a perfect to take down, the conversion, the Chase HQ cabinet was Spectrum version of designed to keep you Chase HQ by pumping the machine conversion experts full of coins in order to Ocean was actually progress. That said, a pretty good.There skilled player could were also conversions complete the entire for pretty much every game in around 10 home computer and minutes, with each of console available, the 5 cars having to including releases by be defeated in under Ocean for the Amstrad 60 seconds. CPC and Amiga, and The Chase HQ arcade by Taito for the NES, game was a blast, and Game Gear and Sega the inevitable home Master System. conversions were

Essentials "Wow! What's that noise?!"

It's the mid 80's and the arcade is alive. After a period of vector graphics, shoot em ups, marauding of what was then next glass marble which aliens and hungry generation of sound, you would have to yellow fellas chasing from explosions of navigate through a ghosts came a new bass to what seemed series of unforgiving era in arcade game like a symphony of experiences. keyboards, all perfectly "Marble Madness"... complementing each and it really delivered. level. The first thing you're aware of is the sound. One of the earlier The cabinet came with games in the 80s to a huge bass speaker, use a trackball, puts booming out decibels you in control of a

The stages became ever more difficult but at the same time were rewarding to complete, with neat little quirks and mechanisms to use to your advantage. This is the driving force that keeps you coming back for more, a very addictive experience. Its Isometric 3D layout, which even now holds its own in the modern world of 3D mazes. Each level the maze. Shortcuts gaming has not aged consisted of ramps, could be found in the one bit making it very slopes, narrow form of pipes to hurl playable. causeways and your marble down to a bridges. lower section of the So, if you're not afraid level, gaining ground of a little broken glass Initially this would to the ever illusive or heights, insert your appear to be simple. 'Goal' which is your credits, hit start and However, things are ultimate aim. enjoy... This classic made even more However, things are game really has stood difficult by the yet again made the test of time. presence of strange difficult with a time creatures glooping limit to complete the TRGN Rating 85% around trying to level, which ticks devour you or rogue down giving you that marbles following your extra sense of dread! every move while trying to knock you Once you’d managed from great heights to to race to the finish the oblivion below. while frantically These were just a few spinning the trackball, of the perils that a bonus was lurked around every given by turn. taking whatever Mazes consisted of time you traps, rods that would have left and push you off course, adding it to drawbridges that if your score, crossed at the wrong carrying over time could result in vital seconds another fatal fall or to the next catapulting you across level, which to another section of

Essentials Millennium 2.2 was a game that was developed way back in 1989 by Ian Bird and published by Electric Dreams/Activision. Released for the Atari ST; Amiga and DOS (where it was around an epic story Moon colony. Starting renamed as line in which the Earth out with just one Millennium: Return to has been rendered hundred souls, and Earth), this wonderful uninhabitable thanks limited power, you are resource based space to a several-trillion ton tasked with heroically opera made its mark asteroid impact. With leading what’s left of long before the likes the earth now nothing humanity against of MOO came onto the more than a volcanic apparently gaming scene. lump of rock, the duty insurmountable odds. of saving the human The game is a race from ultimate By modern standards, beautiful mix of micro falls upon the Millennium 2.2 is management; shoulders of the particularly taxing. All resource allocation; player who adopts the micro management is colonisation and 3D guise of the handled manually, space battles wrought commander of the with the player having

© The Retro Games News Page 39 the system, stating that any craft leaving the Moon will be seen as an act of war. Consequently, the first probe the player launches will trigger attacks on their base, which start with just one fighter and increase to a maximum of ten. Thereafter such diverse events as an outbreak of Martian Flu; finding a battle to initiate research; handles, which in turn cruiser; finding plans building; mining; guide the player along for a terraforming colonisation and other a set story arc that device; colonies sundry tasks in will occasionally place seeking independence between. While this a spanner in the and a final all-out may sound brutal to works, or conversely attack from the the modern 4th gen provide rewards that Martians pepper the gamer, Millennium 2.2 will trigger a sudden game and require comes across as a (in-game) some kind of more personal evolutionary leap in intervention from the interaction between technological terms. player. These events the player and the Upon starting out, the are well spaced apart, game event triggers. player receives but there’s still that The player(on some communication from element of panic level) actually feels for the Mars colony, who instilled, despite the the wellbeing of the have shunned contact resources that may be colonists and players with earth and are at the player’s find themselves now claiming disposal. striving and working dominance throughout harder to obtain the necessary uranium in order to build orbital defence lasers, and count the days down until that remote colony finally receives the medical help it so desperately needs. It’s a lost art, bringing this level of personal interaction and emotional content into a game.

The game is driven by a series of event

© The Retro Games News Page 40 The aforementioned atmospherically attacks on colonies compelling game. offer a rather different approach from the Millennium 2.2 is a static resource-heavy game that certainly screens that the grows on you. Perhaps player commands the its the odd mixture of game from. Providing strategy-cum- there are enough resource increasingly edgy fighters available at management-cum- when its been some the attacked colony sporadic yet sudden time since the last these can be launched arcade action that Martian attack; to the individually and the make it so enjoyable final scene, and in my player can be Or maybe it’s the level opinion one of catapulted into an of detail the player gaming’s greatest Elite-esque 3D fighter perceives as they moments, where the simulator. The manage umpteen Earth has been controls and actual colonies and control repaired by the space battle mini the resources being terraforming device game are basic at shuttled between and humanity once best, but challenging each. Personally, I again returns to the enough to warrant a find the atmosphere of cradle of civilisation. degree of skill when the game the most You are awarded a trying to line up the compelling aspect. view of fields of enemy in the From the outset, with wheat, panning out to crosshairs. Suddenly the graphically encompass green hills, being thrust into the represented earth trees, wildlife and cockpit of the fighter growing dull from the finally, a peaceful does seem a little out fallout of the collision, dome, housing the of place from the rest and the moon coming remainder of of the game, but upon into focus and humanity. All the reflection, it’s actually prominence; through while, the background a nice touch, and as the challenges of music is the thought such forms a nicely managing multiple provoking Gustav balanced and colonies and growing Mahler's Adagietto, from his 5th Symphony in C sharp minor. It almost brings a tear to the eye, after all that hard work. Wonderful stuff.

David Hayward.

Rating 95%

© The Retro Games News Page 41 Essentials I believe there is a time in every gamer’s life when they are not able to truly choose what games they would end up owning. They might ask for ‘Excitebike,’ and end up with ‘Hogan’s Alley’ Licensed games are a exception: licensed and ‘Donkey Kong mixed bag. games that are based Classics.’ Or, they Sometimes you get a on movies are terrible. might ask for ‘Ninja ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja This is especially true Gaiden’ and end up Turtles III: The when you take a look with ‘Friday the 13th.’ Manhattan Project,’ at the label and see It seems that when but all too often you the Technicolor you don’t get the get a ‘Back to the Nightmare Coat that is game you wanted, a Future’ or a ‘Hudson the LJN logo. licensed game is what Hawk.’ Here we have However, I submit you end up with. something akin to a that just because a scientific law that is game is flawed, no- true almost without matter how severely,

On pressing start the player is greeted with the basic objective of the game and an eerie bit of music that sounds like an 8-bit rendition of something John Carpenter might have composed. It truly does make one’s flesh crawl.

The first objective is it does not to obtain a lighter and necessarily mean that The first thing you see travel to each of the it cannot still be fun. in Friday the 13th is large cabins and light the iconic hockey the fireplaces. After Friday the 13th on the mask momentarily this is done, you will NES is not a true before a knife flies find a flashlight which representation of any from off-screen into illuminates the of of the films in the one of its eyes as the passages of the cave franchise. Instead the screen flashes. Any and the second most game represents a Jason fan knows that powerful weapon in generalization or such an affliction is the game - the torch approximation of the only going to make becomes obtainable. whole series. The him angry, when The player may notice game includes the suddenly the title the first of the game’s most recognizable jump-scares onto the flaws at this point: aspects of the films. screen (for the The game’s poor You have a summer uninitiated, a jump- language translation camp called Crystal scare is the technique has made the hints Lake. You have deployed in horror almost useless. This several films and in this problem is counselors/victims instance video games compounded for that are seemingly of having something today’s retro gamer ordinary teenagers, happen unexpectedly who more than likely some built for and suddenly - usually does not have the survival, some not so something popping up instruction booklet much, and of course, out of nowhere. It's that explains some of you have a hulking frequently this. brute bent on accompanied by slaughtering everyone an equally sudden All the while the in his path and loud noise and often player controlled hero naturally, he just will happens after a period of the game (a not stay dead. of tension-building to counselor) is roaming

© The Retro Games News Page 43 win…for now,” each time, but they must deplete his life bar three times to complete the game. Luckily, each time you do deplete his life bar, any living counselors’ life bars are refilled as well.

The game does have several other flaws or annoyances. The first is that the overland theme (the music you hear in most environments) is repetitive and quickly grows stale. The theme that plays in the cabins is the same as the creepy theme that plays when you first start the game. As stated before, this theme really sets the mood for horror. It is fitting that it plays where you are most about lighting loud tone that one likely to encounter fireplaces, Jason is would expect from a Jason and where the running all around the typical jump-scare. jump-scare is most camp attempting to You hear the same effective. If only as murder children, the tone whenever any of much effort was put other counselors, and the counselors die. into crafting the you. If either all of the overland theme. I counselors or all of the As anyone who is don’t know how they children are killed, familiar with the could have done it, then it’s GAME OVER. franchise would but I would have expect, Jason is very loved to hear their The game is scary in hard to put down for best “ki ki ki, ma ma the same way the good. This game does ma.” average Friday the an excellent job 13th film is scary. It including this famous Another flaw is the relies on the jump- character attribute of map. When looking at scare, and it does a Jason. Not only will the map it will look good job of using it the player fight him like you should travel effectively. Any time protecting children to the right to reach Jason appears you will and counselors only to your destination. hear the 8-bit sudden, be greeted with “You When the player goes back to the overland

© The Retro Games News Page 44 screen, travels right and checks the map again, they will find that they have actually been going in the opposite direction. However, this flaw can be overcome quite easily simply by paying attention: It is rare that two cabins of the same size will be next to one another and you can use this design feature as a navigation aid. If going left on the map will have the player walking passed a large cabin and instead en- them and b. Exit the away. Even items that route they see a small woods. The cave is are supposed to one, they will know somewhat difficult to appear in a designated before the map will navigate as well, but location, such as the show their movement once the cabin is torch, simply will not that they are traveling found, it is quite easy be where they should in the wrong direction. both to exit the cave be and require the and find the cabin player to exit and re- One aspect of the again. enter a cabin a few game is not a flaw so times to get it to much as it is a part of A nearly fatal flaw appear. Other times it the game that is would have to be the shows up early. poorly developed. random item drops. There are cabins in Items that are an The worst flaw is a the forest that you absolute necessity, flaw that is found in never really need to such as the lighter, many NES games. visit. They do not keys, and medicine, Often, the best have fireplaces to be are dropped purely at strategy, nay, the lit or counselors to be random. There are ONLY strategy the protected. They can some locations where player has at their sometimes have some items are more disposal is to stand weapons that are a likely to appear, but and attack while little more difficult to there is no guarantee taking damage. This find, but the player of the player finding only happens towards can find more what they need and the end of the game powerful weapons when they need it. for when Jason becomes without ever entering example, the lighter is much too fast to these forest cabins. It needed to start dodge and damage at is a pretty good thing lighting fireplaces. the same time, but it that you do not need However, sometimes still a significant to enter these cabins the player just can’t enough issue worthy as it is nearly get it to appear right of mention. impossible to a. Find

© The Retro Games News Page 45 Alright, enough with They don’t even begin Friday the 13th can the flaws. Anyone play equipped with really be played two reading this has got to anything that can ways. The first way is be wondering at this truly be called a by playing with point why they should weapon. They don’t strategy. The player even attempt to play have a gun or even a arranges their this game. The reason knife. All they have at counselors in cabins is simple: Friday the their disposal are and tries to cover the 13th on NES is fun. rocks and whatever camp for maximum athletic ability their response time and Despite its flaws character of choice fighting effectiveness. Friday the 13th does a might possess. Most This means trying to few things very well. of the characters are get each counselor at The most important not even close to least moderately thing is it creates a being in the physical equipped and placed feeling of condition one would in cabins near the hopelessness that is expect from someone children and close to arguably necessary in who would do battle each other. Once this sustaining horror. with the undead (a bit is done the player Jason is a powerful like Pete then in must choose one of foe. He is fast, strong, Shaun of the Dead). the very few tough, and seems to counselors that can be everywhere. Jason The player doesn’t run fast enough and isn’t just a final boss. just have Jason to jump high enough to He is encountered contend with. While it get all the fireplaces lit throughout the game. may have nothing to and then be equipped He can be do with the films, they with the axe or the encountered seconds fight zombies and torch so that they can after the game is wolves in the woods defeat Jason. started. It is as and the cave (bats are though he is actually also encountered in The other way the after the player, as the cave) and giant game can be played is opposed to the player birds near the lake as a pure side- being after him. Thus, and at night. There is scrolling action game. the hunter becomes no shortage of action Some may find this the hunted to a between lighting fires way the most fun. It is certain extent. Every and Jason encounters. also the easiest way second of play is spent wondering if Jason is around the corner waiting to put an end to the player’s game and life.

The hopelessness is emphasized by the fact that the playable characters are ordinary teenagers. the player doesn’t play as an experienced slayer of the undead.

© The Retro Games News Page 46 to complete the game. up until all of the acceptable at the Here, the player fireplaces are lit and time, Friday the 13th chooses a counselor to better weapons are on NES is a flawed but use exclusively. If any found, the athletic interesting and fun counselor is in danger, counselor can be used game. Though it is let them fight their to defeat Jason…three popular to hate this own battle by times. game, it truly is worth switching to them a look. If you have to, when Jason enters This game was pretend it was a gift their cabin. Stones do released during a time and you are just plain very little damage, but when the horror genre sick of all your other can drive Jason off in video games was games. You have got just as effectively as pretty much non- to play something, any other weapon. If existent. The idea of ANYTHING that feels the children must be having any significant new. So turn off the protected,switch to an blood, gore, or lights, turn up the expendable counselor violence in a video volume, and play and go drive Jason off, game was unheard of. Friday the 13th on hopefully picking up a Given both the NES. “Destroy knife before they get limitations of the Jason…if you can!” there. If the player console and of what manages to keep this would have been TRGN Rating 75%

Essentials Most people who owned a Commodore 64 or a ZX Spectrum would have played Way of the Exploding Fist by Melbourne House, a game which element of repetition of the sequel was really raised the bar as each level was a when I laid eyes upon for home computer series of bouts fought it in a shop (john ‘beat em ups’. Whist in front of a different Menzes). The game this was a great backdrop. As each was simply titled Fist game, there was an level was completed, 2, making it feasible you would move a for somebody to miss step closer to the the connection to the much coveted black first game. belt. Upon reading the Amazingly. despite description on the being an avid reader back of the inlay, it of most UK based seemed hugely computer magazines ambitious and was during that period, the hard to see how it first time I was aware could all be fit into

© The Retro Games News Page 48 64K without a multi- bet, so the purchase The characters were load. The game would was made. also unique and contain all the combat slightly mysterious, moves from the first As soon as you like the war painted title, but would be a launched into the warriors and the river side scrolling affair game, you were dwelling ninjas. with caverns, rivers, greeted with great Fighting these mountains and scenery and an characters whilst temples. I would atmospheric being waist deep in rarely buy games at soundtrack which water was certainly a the time without changed according to new experience. In reading a review first, what part of the fact, if you performed but on this occasion it landscape you were a foot sweep, you seemed a pretty safe in. were almost entirely submerged.

The object of the game was to find a series of scrolls which have gone missing since an evil warlord had destroyed the original Exploding Fist temples, something that would take some serious exploration and would lead to

© The Retro Games News Page 49 climbing to the game which kept you Fist 2. With that said, highest points of the constantly on edge the backdrops were landscape. was the fact that if unique to both games you lost your life, that which was great. This To make things would be the end of addition to Fist 2 difficult, when you the game and you allowed you to hone start the game your would have to start your combat skills, energy bar (or chi from the beginning. I especially if you have level) is very low, but can remember never played the first throughout the sweating with every game before. landscape, you would battle knowing that if discover temples in I blew it, I would have Fist 2 had great which you can to return to the graphics, atmospheric meditate. Upon beginning. music and a combat further enlightenment, system which tied it you would then reach An added bonus to the all together. This the next level Kung Fu game was the flip game was well ahead skill, and thus slide of the cassette of its time and still increase your contained a game I provides an enjoyable chi/energy level. This dubbed Fist 1.5, as it challenge today. would give you a was a hybrid of Way fighting chance of the Exploding Fist TRGN Rating 94% against the trickier and Fist 2. Basically, foes you would meet the combat was on your journey. similar to the first game, but the An element of the characters were from

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