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Post by Snake on Oct 24, 2022 16:58:32 GMT -5
Rank - S
Akumajo Dracula/Castlevania 1 has so many remakes/revisits - from the original, to the MSX version, Haunted Castle, X68000, and who knows what else. But I feel this one was particularly excellent for a first gen release of SNES games. Rented it, and played it feverishly from start to finish within the day. It was a real impact to go from playing Castlevania 3, to this on a next-gen system. The music soundtrack instantly felt more alive. All the intelligent uses of parallax scrolling and Mode-7 effects in the tower really gave it a vibe. Atmospheric, moody. They really built up each moment, from the moment you get on the first draw-bridge, to the way you make your way into the castle entrance. And then as you hit the last few levels, nostalgia hits with 16-bit renditions of Bloody Tears, Vampire Killer, and Beginning, up to the gauntlet of fighting off Slogra, Gaibon, and Death. The hail mary jump off the stairs cheat with maxing out hearts, cross, item 3, and life force chicken made the last encounter all too easy. One of my all-time favorites. Everything about this game strums the strings of my soul.
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Post by 🧀Son of Suzy Creamcheese🧀 on Oct 26, 2022 12:20:20 GMT -5
SCV4 eh? By no means a bad game, but not quite an SNES classic to me. I like the core of CV, but none of the first 4 CVs fully satisfy me for some reason (haven't played 3 in a while). I like this one about as much as the other 3. The graphics are kind of jumbled, like the NES games, but it doesn't look as natural here. In fact, it looks pretty bad at times, there's just some really ugly looking backgrounds. The music is fantastic, though. To be fair, I did play the game on the SNES mini, so maybe playing it on a CRT like god intended would make it look better.
Gameplay-wise it has some nice additions, and it definitely feels better to play than the NES games (unlike something like MMX where I don't think the additions add anything to the formula). I honestly don't remember that much of the specifics otherwise. I know the stages more or less, but no real level design specifics or bosses that stand out. But I liked it fine, so I'll give it a B.
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Post by windfisch on Oct 27, 2022 9:43:53 GMT -5
Seems like I've got some catching up to do. There are some really interesting games to talk about. I'll start just with my bare rankings with more to come in the following days:
Street Fighter II - B
Krusty's Super Fun House - no rating
Axelay - S
Wild Guns - A
Spider-Man and the X-Men in Arcade's Revenge - no rating
Soul Blazer - A
Mega Man X - A
Super Smash TV - C
Super Castlevania IV - S
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Post by excelsior on Oct 27, 2022 13:06:19 GMT -5
Seems like I've got some catching up to do. Umm, you sure do. You missed the opportunity to try and spell something out with your rankings though. For instance you could have had something like - F - Axelay A - Wild Guns B - Castlevania A - Soul Blazer S - Mega Man S - Super Smash TV But of course, it doesn't have to be a description of me. 😉 Nice to know you're still popping in here and there anyway. |
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Post by windfisch on Oct 28, 2022 7:59:02 GMT -5
F - Super Smash TV A - Wild Guns B - Street Fighter II A - Soul Blazer S - Castlevania S - Axelay Since that accurately decribes my physique, I'm willing to change my ratings accordingly.
Speaking of behinds, I'm going to start with the most recent entries:
Super Castlevania IV
Even though there's an abundance of great Castlevanias, this still stands out as my favourite. Admittedly, Rondo is more polished, but IV's creative, experimental energy still makes me revisit it the most. Simply playing around with the controls feels so good: Either swinging your whip around wildly or letting it dangle for a while, there are few things in life as satisfying - at least in single player mode. And, contrary to popular belief, you cannot overdo it, you won't go blind, don't worry.
That sense of freedom also extends to character movement, be it adjusting your trajectory midair, hopping onto stairs (but not off, for some reason) or crouchwalking. Its playful design philosophy can also be felt in the stages: revolving rooms, giant swinging chandeliers or a whole stage consisting of all kinds of treasures - there are quite a few memorable moments in this game. That's even true when the game isn't bombarding you with enemies and Mode 7 effects. Some segments simply exist to create tension and atmosphere, like the bit before you enter the main castle door (stage V), accompanied by minimalistic, foreboding instrumentation.
Ah yes, the music: Jazz-infused and ranging from dramatic, high-tempo to calm and melancholic, it's fantastic and one of a kind (well except for the tracks that have been recycled in later entries). Visually it also has a strong identity. Earth tones and somewhat flat character designs seem inspired by medieval art. Though some expressive splotches of bright, primary colours remind us of the series' NES roots.
It's a bit of a shame that a direct sequel never got made. Some gameplay elements feel like they haven't been utilized to their fullest potential. Even though its whip mechanics have influenced Bloodlines (to a degree) and visually Chronicles shares some similarities (while also leaning towards Renaissance art), Super IV remains the most unique of the Classicvanias.
rating: S
Super Smash T.V. Twin stick shooters are not among my favourite genres. Though I'm not opposed to them either. But Smash T.V. can't quite hide its arcade origins, designed to overwhelm with hordes of enemies in order to get the quarters flowing. The SNES team did their best to replicate the second stick with the diamond alligned buttons (I emulated it on PSP, which has a similar layout), but that still didn't feel great to me. The thumb doesn't slide as effortlessly from one position to the other as it would on a d-pad, especially when it comes to diagonals. Sometimes I'd press three buttons at the same time on accident, meaning I'd end up shooting in the wrong direction. So an alternate control scheme, letting you rotate via L/R buttons, would've been nice. The game as a whole also doesn't offer that much variety. I much prefer Pocky and Rocky in that regard.
It's not a bad game, but due to immense peer pressure I have to give it an F, I'm afraid.
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Post by excelsior on Oct 29, 2022 3:42:57 GMT -5
Haha. I really thought the peer pressure was pretty mild, and was clearly targeted at disparaging Axelay. Be warned that any negatity against Super Smash TV will not stand in my thread!
Seriously though, I'll take the rankings from the first post as the 'serious' submissions.
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Post by windfisch on Oct 29, 2022 5:36:51 GMT -5
Haha. I really thought the peer pressure was pretty mild, and was clearly targeted at disparaging Axelay. Be warned that any negatity against Super Smash TV will not stand in my thread! Seriously though, I'll take the rankings from the first post as the 'serious' submissions. At long last you've revealed yourself, Madame, as the authoritarian & unelected misleader of this thread that you've been all along.
I will not be censored and I demand a recount for Subpar Smash TV!
edit: Kidding, of course! As far as dictators are concerned, excelsior may be one of the nicest around. 
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Post by personman on Oct 29, 2022 13:26:11 GMT -5
Have to run to work right now so I'll probably came back and edit this to lay out my thoughts later. I'm sure everyone is on pins and needles and now lol.
But just in case I don't get the chance in time gonna go with S on this one.
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Post by excelsior on Oct 29, 2022 18:26:52 GMT -5
windfisch - I wouldn't worry matey. I'm sure myself and everyone else participating here knows you're joking. I don't think 'nice' is in keeping with my usual social reputation, but online interaction is easier I guess, so thanks for that. personman - as per my recent heel turn any S rankings for Castlevania will be disregarded, well reasoned or not. I shall of course look to dictate the direction of the rankings in the coming weeks. Look for an agenda pushing the likes of Stunt Race FX and Puzzle N Desu.... and yes, I am kidding.... or am I? 
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Post by windfisch on Oct 29, 2022 20:35:51 GMT -5
windfisch - I wouldn't worry matey. I'm sure myself and everyone else participating here knows you're joking. I don't think 'nice' is in keeping with my usual social reputation, but online interaction is easier I guess, so thanks for that. personman - as per my recent heel turn any S rankings for Castlevania will be disregarded, well reasoned or not. I shall of course look to dictate the direction of the rankings in the coming weeks. Look for an agenda pushing the likes of Stunt Race FX and Puzzle N Desu.... and yes, I am kidding.... or am I? I'm glad my humour is recognized, my queen. Never would I question your authority. And not in my wildest dreams would I suggest your highness should be dethroned and burnt alive [satire]. Castlevania IV is not that great after all, is it? No, your grace. In fact, I'd be shocked if anyone would even entertain the mere thought of beheading you for such a minor misstep [satire]. Hahahaha. And of course you don't actually do missteps. Just steps. In the right direction. The only direction, I might add. God loves our tyrants and so do I. I swear. It's getting awfully late, isn't it? May I excuse myself? Please?! |
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Post by excelsior on Oct 30, 2022 0:07:55 GMT -5
Castlevania IV is not that great after all, is it? I gave it a B, so I certainly enjoy it, and the rankings from people here reflect that everybody here does - just to varying degrees. What the aggregate rankings have mostly shown on here across the games we've covered is that even with the most popular games you'll get a similar variance of opinion, landing the aggregate around the same. I've considered whether to introduce minus and plus ratings to the system just to try and create some further differentiation, especially as the front page graphic becomes a little messy - but that creates its own messiness and complications. What's shown in the results so far is that one man's treasure is another's trash - and it can certainly be disheartening to read negativity on a favourite that simply didn't resonate at all with somebody else - but those differences in opinion are what makes the forum worth reading at the end of the day, and not some aggregate score that only exists as a way to tie things together and provide some consistency in direction. Or perhaps I've got the wrong end of the stick and I just need to try harder to think up games that are universally loved as per Mario World; or reviled on the opposite end of the spectrum. The next game will be my last selection for a while, regardless, as I'll be asking for participants to select games of the week for the next batch. Hopefully we can get a glimpse into the gaming history of those beyond myself in the selections. |
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Post by windfisch on Oct 30, 2022 8:02:57 GMT -5
Castlevania IV is not that great after all, is it? I gave it a B, so I certainly enjoy it, and the rankings from people here reflect that everybody here does - just to varying degrees. What the aggregate rankings have mostly shown on here across the games we've covered is that even with the most popular games you'll get a similar variance of opinion, landing the aggregate around the same. I've considered whether to introduce minus and plus ratings to the system just to try and create some further differentiation, especially as the front page graphic becomes a little messy - but that creates its own messiness and complications. What's shown in the results so far is that one man's treasure is another's trash - and it can certainly be disheartening to read negativity on a favourite that simply didn't resonate at all with somebody else - but those differences in opinion are what makes the forum worth reading at the end of the day, and not some aggregate score that only exists as a way to tie things together and provide some consistency in direction. Or perhaps I've got the wrong end of the stick and I just need to try harder to think up games that are universally loved as per Mario World; or reviled on the opposite end of the spectrum. The next game will be my last selection for a while, regardless, as I'll be asking for participants to select games of the week for the next batch. Hopefully we can get a glimpse into the gaming history of those beyond myself in the selections. I guess I overdid my last one after all? Sorry for that.
In all seriousness, I actually do enjoy reading all kinds of different opionions, especially on games I thought to be universally beloved. And I agree, that's part of what makes threads like these interesting.
edit: As for changing the system to allow for +/- , I don't think that would be necessary. The overall rankings are good for showing a broader trend, but that's about it. No need to overcomplicate things, Imo.
edit2: By the way, you're doing an excellent job with the faux back of the box game introductions!
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Post by excelsior on Oct 31, 2022 1:40:51 GMT -5
- Publisher - Konami
- Developer - LucasArts
- Genre - Shoot-em-up
- Initial Release - September 1993
Hey, where's that scary music coming from? Yikes! It's Zombies Ate My Neighbors, where you appear in every demented horror flick ever to make you hurl ju-jubes! What are two wholesome teenage stars doing in a 16-bit game like this? Trying to save the nice neighbors, cheerleaders and babies from a fate worse than polyester! Who could put this slice of suburbia in such goose-pimply behavior? Zombies, relentless Chainsaw Maniacs, Mummies, Evil Dolls that just won't die, Lizard Men, Blobs, Vampires, Giant Ants, Martians and more! Play Zombies Ate My Neighbors! But don't be surprised if your friends are missing when you hear the sound of the chainsaw hissing!
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Post by excelsior on Oct 31, 2022 1:58:16 GMT -5
A couple of things before we start - The Tier List on the front page needs a rework so it hasn't been updated with Super Castlevania's ranking, nor those updated for windfisch's added scores.
Also, as previously mentioned, I'm looking for users to get involved in the weekly selections for the upcoming period. For now, I will ask each poster to name one game they would like to see discussed here. My only rule is that we don't break the sequential order of series - so no sequels where previous games haven't been covered. This rule doesn't apply to annualised sports games. We will start with the user with the highest number of ranked entries - that's spanky - and then move forward in no particular order. Please name your chosen game somewhere in your reply post for ZAMN.
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So, happy Halloween everyone! I thought this would be the most suitable entry for that date on the calendar. Of course, Zombies takes a non-serious approach with a more B-movie vibe which for me is a big part of what makes the game stand out. It's another better in two player game as has been the case so many times in this thread, with players navigating mazes to locate and rescue stranded civilians whilst defending themselves against hordes of light-hearted takes on horrific enemies. Although the locations do repeat a bit there's enough variety due to the number of enemies and weapons on offer which keeps things fun. I really like the monster transformation weapon and the lawnmower is also really handy. The number of stages is too great for one sitting, thankfully there's a password system. Personally, I would generally play the beginning stages and found later the game became too challenging. As per the items and enemies, the sound and visuals do a great job of pushing the light-horror tone.
Ranking - B
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Post by spanky on Oct 31, 2022 7:25:44 GMT -5
Wow! I am so honored! Checking out this thread on Monday mornings while procrastinating before I start work is a weekly highlight for me. I'm sort of torn with my choice. Part of me wants to choose Battletoads & Double Dragon as it's a game I associate with this time of year but you could argue it's a sequel to Battlemaniacs or even Super Double Dragon I suppose. So let's go in a different direction. Part of me wants to choose a bad game so we can get something in the dreaded "F" category, but that's no fun when I can just choose something I like. How about Super Punch-Out!! So, Zombies Ate My Neighbors! This is a game that I really want to like but the game itself is trying it's damnedest to make me hate it. It's very funny with a great theme -it's like playing an episode of Svengoolie. Can't forget about the amazing music either. There's a huge variety of weapons and items as well. The core game is also very fun. However...it's probably too lengthy and frustrating for my tastes. I've never come close to beating it and a playthrough shows it takes about 3 hours. There is a password but it starts you with minimum weapons and items which seems like a daunting task late in the game. This is sort of moot in the era of emulation and save states though. There's only a few bosses and major enemies but they are huge damage sponges. Cycling through all your weapons and items in the heat of combat can also be a bit stressful. I also get irritated when neighbors get slaughtered by monsters offscreen or as soon as you see them. Overall it's a good game but a bit rough around the edges and I think the good and the bad are pretty even here. There's lots of room for improvement but I think the sequel is a bit worse. Too bad. Let's give this a C. |
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