Retrogaming Review of The Year 2016

Retrogaming Review of The Year 2016

Reading early issues of NGC Magazine I was reminded why the GameCube was only really a good console rather than the truly great and groundbreaking N64 - there's a lot of concern over Nintendo's new policy of shorter games, and if you think about it, this was the precursor to the Wii and it's games, which were more like minigames than full console experiences. The anger over 'Zelda' turning cartoony was also a big issue, though I can't recall being upset about it, and in the end we got the best of both worlds by having the epic 'Twilight Princess' at the very end of the 'Cube's life. Many of the big games were simply prettier, more detailed versions of N64 titles or genres, though there were new experiences to be had: I think of 'Hitman 2,' 'Super Monkey Ball,' 'Metroid Prime,' 'Spider-Man 2,' 'Burnout 2' and 'Conflict: Desert Storm' as good examples of games that either weren't possible, or weren't seen on N64. But the big change for me this year was the death of my Amiga and gaming monitor...

[Ratings reflect total, historical experience, not just the enjoyment level I got out of them this time.]


January: Donkey Kong 64 (1999, N64) - Finishing off this fun platformer kept me busy through January, and was the last N64 game I played for the year, partly thanks to the unforeseen loss of my gaming screen. Have a read of my full review for more on this one. ****

January - February: UFO: Enemy Unknown (1993, Amiga 1200) - I've been playing this game regularly, usually weekly, since January 2005: that's eleven years! Sadly, my routine (which actually began even earlier with a previous file beginning in 2002: that's thirteen years!), was blitzed when my Amiga monitor died (which I also used for console games), so I was left very disappointed. It's not that I needed to keep the game going, after all I've had the opportunity to visit Mars and complete the final mission for years and years, but I just enjoy it as a game to relax to, from the music to the beautiful visual style. There's been nothing new to do in the game for years, I'd researched every item possible, made more money than the game could actually compute, and been reduced to one funding nation that's kept the mission alive for such a long time. I never even see Alien Base missions any more since they basically run Earth, except for my little section. But it's sad not to have the option to continue playing, not to mention the many other Amiga games I wanted to revisit. On the positive side it has given me more time with whatever current game I'm on, but it's small consolation for a gaming tradition, even ritual, that lasted more than a decade. *****

February - September: Need For Speed Underground 2 (2004, GameCube) - A huge game that kept me busy for a good chunk of the year, though I had one false start when my screen died, and it wasn't until March when I found a Dell 2007 FPb 20" LCD screen as replacement, and by then I was well into 'Age of Empires II.' Still, when I did get back to it I thought it was a reasonably engaging racer with enough new features to justify its existence. I'd enjoyed the first game, and this improved things a bit with some races at dawn or sunset to offset the constant night racing of before. The vast city that served as hub, instead of a menu screen, was quite an achievement for the time, an early form of the sandbox-style open world that would become common in later years. The outrun feature where you take on street racers who happen by could be addictive and exciting with multiple consecutive wins on the line. I also liked the additions of Downhill Drift and the Street X smash-abouts. The cats eyes on the road were helpful and the graphics generally seemed to have improved (apart from such flaws as faceless, zombielike fans to wave you off at the start of a race, and the DVD covers, mag covers and title screen's low resolution), and it was a fun aspect having control to take the photos of your car for magazine or DVD covers. It also grew on me as I played - a little too long, but I realised the basic maps weren't a hindrance as they encouraged you to read road signs and act like a real visitor to the city, immersing you in the world. AI could be brutal, and the game certainly had challenge, sometimes unfairly so: I could never complete more than 98%, despite having fulfilled all the tasks, so it was frustrating not to get a clean 100%. But it was worth most of its playing time, satisfying to unlock large new areas, but not such a tight experience as the first game. ***

February - August: Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings campaigns (2001, MacBook Pro) - One good thing about losing my Amiga's screen, was that it gave me ample time and a desire to keep playing games. After many years of planning to 'one day' complete the Campaigns on the hardest difficulty, that day had finally come! I began with Joan of Arc as that was the one I remembered fondly (I've always preferred the green landscape and trees rather than desert, or sea-based, combat), and I had no trouble scything through those missions (even if I did artificially lengthen them by taking long routes and often totally destroying the enemy rather than just completing the objectives). But I was surprised to find it much easier than anticipated, in general, and in fact there was only one level higher than 'Normal,' designated 'Hard.' Still it was good fun, and I even played the William Wallace Campaign for old time's sake, even though they were  training scenarios (and to hear the 'varied' voice acting that wavered between Scottish, English or Irish at any moment, and which became a family joke). For an experiencer 'Ager' I should have expected it to be within my ability level, but it still had its challenges (the level where you have to get into the enemy town, rescue some villagers, then cross the river and break through the opposite wall before making your way to the allies' settlement in the North, sticks out). Ironically, this was one of the few years I hadn't made playing this game one of my goals! I enjoyed Saladin more than I expected, but Genghis Khan was not so much fun, being all steppes and mazes of rocks. *****

June - July: Wave Race: Blue Storm (2002, GameCube) - Warm, summery weather made me feel like it, but initially I found it inaccessible, the handling even on the easiest tournament tough to master, with unforgiving courses and robust opposition. Not until Expert level did it finally click (the nuances of releasing the accelerator, or tapping it to turn easier; the balance between too little or too large a turn the key to victory; careful use of the boost - all too often it would push you off course into a wall or make your handling ridiculously lumpy!). The best way to win was not to miss buoys, and rather than concentrating on environs or opponents, steering correctly was paramount. At the same time, tactical use of up to four missed buoys without disqualification was a useful trick, as well as judicious use of shortcuts - I couldn't win La Razza Canal until I found a couple there! By Expert mode I was addicted to winning all championships and actively enjoying the experience, where before I found the strict racing line constraining, unlike '1080º,' which was much more intuitive (snowboard control substantially easier). Riding those huge waves on Southern Island in a storm, or gliding over glacial waters in Arctic Bay, the water reality stood out as top-class and I wonder how many iterations have followed, ever more realistic? Almost makes me want a new-fangled Wii to find out… Sadly, no special end music (one of my favourite pieces is the finale of 'Mario Kart 64,' simultaneously sad and happy), and no real connection to these people or their world, as good as it was to have '1080º' and previous 'Wave Race' characters crossover. As NGC said, Nintendo Software Technologies wasn't strictly Nintendo themselves, and you feel a slight lack of the big N's magic. A much better experience than it first seemed, though not quite classic gaming pleasure for inaccessibility, though putting the time in, rewards. I wanted a mirror championship so I could keep playing, the sign of a good game, but it had limited appeal as a multiplayer due to requiring hours of learning to control your machine! If you're not into stunts or time attack, there's not much to keep you after breaking the championships, and the lack of weather choice in Free Roam was disappointing as I really wanted to ride those storms! ***

September - October: Star Trek: 25th Anniversary (1992, DOSBox) - In the 50th Anniversary year of my favourite franchise I planned to play one of its classic games. The graphics were adorable, the sound effects evocative, if basic, and the puzzles… well, they could be frustrating, as were various other ticks and irritations: not being allowed to save until after the briefing on a level, the impression of being the leader of a team, but in reality your crew remaining pretty mute, and the usual trial and error of the genre. But it was so much fun to be aboard the Enterprise and though basic, to have the ability to carry out the tasks and interact with the characters, all in a very 'Star Trek: The Original Series' style that played to the intelligent series' strengths, rather than being a shoot-'em-up or action-based game. The patience-testing was high, leading to a close call in rating, but the overall experience was positive. ***

September - November: WWF No Mercy (2000, N64) - Having enjoyed previous iterations in the wrestling series on the N64, I had to check this one out, since it was considered the pinnacle for its time. I didn't get a chance to try out the multiplayer experience, perhaps the most important judge of such a game, but I'm sure it would only have been enhanced by so many additions to the formula, from new game modes to improved graphics and animation. It provided plenty of game time, though it was annoying that you had to play through a serious trial and error to get 100% on a belt, something I never managed as my enjoyment waned by 90-odd% on a belt! ***

December: Starfox Adventures (2002, GameCube) - Basic 'Zelda' ripoff, that has the distinction of being the last home console game from Rare to grace a Nintendo system (as far as I know they're still tied to Microsoft to this day, not that I keep up with that sort of thing). I wanted to play it for some time, and Christmas seemed the obvious time for it, keeping up a tradition of the past two years of playing a Rare platform game at that time. Not that this is a platform game, but it served the purpose, and while being fairly reminiscent of other games, it managed to hold my attention and staved off boredom, something not all games can do. The good stuff came from some beauty in the visuals department, and some nice music and voices (as well as some irritating voices), and if the flying sections felt forced, they weren't a big part of it. The game had varied locales and plenty of puzzles, though the lack of invention was evident. Not groundbreaking, but worth the time I spent on it. ***

Honourable mentions to 'Burnout 2,' continuing to be the occasional multiplayer outing of choice, as well as a bit of multiplayer 'Perfect Dark.' Also, 'Speedball 2' on Boxer, which I can't really include as a serious entry in the main reviews as I only played it a little bit back in May, not really getting into it properly, just as a knockabout. I expect 'Age of Empires II' would have qualified here in multiplayer guise, too, except that as well as losing my Amiga monitor my Apple PowerBook G4 also died a death, so it was no longer possible for linkup play, sadly.


Next Year - I continued exploring the GameCube legacy, NGC Magazine useful as a shop window for potential purchases, and I did play a few more of the DOSBox games, including the Trek game I'd planned, thanks to the Amiga being off the table. In 2017 I'd like to:

- Continue playing more 'Cube games, which shouldn't be difficult as I have several queued up, as well as the desire to replay some I own from times of yore, particularly the two 'Zelda' releases.

- I have a strange hankering for some Game Boy Advance gaming, especially as I've discovered a headphone adaptor for the SP, so 'Advance Wars' might finally see the light of day again.

- Play more DOSBox, in particular, the 'Dune' games.

- More N64 games, a few of which are lined up.

- Find a way to play my Amiga again, although this looks less and less likely.

- Having enjoyed the 'Age of Empires II' campaigns so much I might do the ones from 'The Conquerors Expansion.'

- I'm tempted to purchase a Nintendo Switch, the first new console I would have bought since the 'Cube, and the first that I feel some interest in thanks to the unique idea of turning it into a portable console. We'll see...

Happy New Year!