Ok, so I went on holiday and missed August's back of mini-reviews, but it's back for the last Friday of September! Puzzle your way around some train tracks in 3D Ultra Lionel TrainTown (1999, Sierra On-Line), play as a cartoon Bond in the animated action game Guy Spy and the Crystals of Armageddon (1992, ReadySoft), act on that urge to go a bit faster in the original racing game The Need for Speed (1995, Electronic Arts), fix time by way of educational mini-games in The Time Warp of Dr. Brain (1996, Sierra On-Line) and lastly shoot up the place in the 360° schmup Zone 66 (1993 Epic MegaGames).
Don't forget that on top of all this, the last two months have brought us a number of new reviews and videos including my Top 10 Underrated FMV Adventures. I've also updated the package for RAMA to version 2, so check that out if you're interested.
Before you head on over, see them in motion by watching my YouTube video below! If you like it, you may want to subscribe to my channel and if you really want to show some support, consider becoming a Patreon.
Click on the images below to head on over to the game page.
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1999 Sierra On-Line
Windows '95
Puzzle-Logic-Trains!-3D Ultra Series
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1992 ReadySoft
Amiga / DOS
Action-Arcade-Spies!
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1995 Psygnosis
DOS
Racing-Street-Arcade
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1996 Sierra On-Line
Windows '95
Edutainment-Adventure-Puzzle
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1993 Epic MegaGames
DOS
Arcade-Schmup-Sci Fi
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As much as I tend to praise you and your dedicated work to the skies (and justifiably so), however this time, dear Biff, you allowed yourself a capital blunder - if I may be so bold - by driving the suspected holy mother of game console and PC Arcade racing into secondary importance (with, so much should be said, no offence to your MONTHLY 5, quite the opposite), instead of honoring "her" with nothing less than one of your ingeniously sophisticated full-feature-reviews the way "she" truly deserves. Yes, and not only that, because it would also hold the pleasant side effect in store regarding countering the underrepresented genre of racing games on your otherwise, for me, formidable website.
ReplyDeleteBut hey, what did I hear through the grapevine? ;-) Or was it rather wishful thinking that made me think you wanna reserve all the glory and the splendour, the fanfare and the hymns for The Need For Speed Special Edition, being tuned up even further by your outstanding writing and technical capacities? Which would be a coup de main for real - with timpani and trumpets, so to say - that would not only do excellent justice to The Collection Chamber per se, but would also render well-earned homage to a legacy with which a still nowadays renowned racing game series had its meaningful beginnings once.
Amen to that. :-)
Bye for now,
Thomas
It was mainly down to time that the other versions aren't included (yet). I even accidentally used the wrong cover art for the YouTube video thumbnail, so that's how close I was.
DeleteWhatever your plans in regard to a possible essay on The Need For Speed's debut may be, I take it as it comes (but nonetheless I'll be more than happy if it actually does. No pressure, though, Biff).
DeleteOverhappy I'm also with Over Drivin' GT-R, which in fact isn't just your regular basic conversion of, as in this case, The Need For Speed for the Japanese Playstation One and Sega Saturn gamer audience, but offers a whole different range of videos that aims at the completely replaced as well in-game featured and localised sports vehicle fleet (old and new) that makes the Japanese cars enthusiast's mouth water with ease.
In addition, said Japanese Sega Saturn release is the only one available on game consoles that shines with Analogue steering support, which, in conjunction with a smoother 3D graphics engine, are two attributes that surprisingly outperform the version to be found on Sony's Playstation.
I would even stick my neck out and say that the Japanese Sega Saturn release outshines the PC's Deluxe Edition in terms of smoothness and the Analogue driving sensation, which feels more handy and grippy on the Saturn (or per PC emulation via SSF), if you ask me. And the way a game actually "feels" means a lot to me.
So, for any hardcore fan who feels The Need For Speed pumping through his or her veins, I'd suggest you to be on the lookout for Nissan Presents: Over Drivin' GT-R (full title), because despite the fact that the game regarding its overall structure, race tracks and menu navigation is practically identical to the original PC version, the (beautiful) devil is, as is often the case, in the (pretty) detail, as with Over Drivin' GT-R shown here, being one that is still offering enough interestingly different content (in terms of cars, videos, 3D smoothness and steering experience) which the The Need For Speed aficionado will appreciate without a doubt. :-)
Bye for now,
Thomas
Addendum: When I was talking about the Japanese Sega Saturn version of The Need For Speed a.k.a. Over Drivin' GT-R and its Analogue steering being the only one available on game consoles, I referred to steering via Gamepad, not a steering wheel (which is indeed supported in Saturn releases (don't know about Playstation in regard to that) worldwide).
DeleteBye for now,
Thomas
NFS :D
ReplyDeleteWooow thx