Dru64

Just found out about this, looking forward to it! I, Robot seemed to be a hit with video game reviewers on its release, though I never found one in the arcades I frequented. It’s recently become one of my favourites on Atari 50.

I’ve always loved Llamasoft games (seeing Sheep in Space being demoed in a store was the main reason I wanted a C64 back in 1984). Jeff is a true legend, he was there at the dawn of computer games (his classic Gridrunner was possibly the first commercial C64 game produced in the UK).

I only found out about this forthcoming release a couple of days ago, couldn’t quite believe it! Seeing Sheep in Space on a TV in a branch of John Menzies sold the C64 to me back in 1984. Avidly followed the progress of Iridis Alpha in Zzap!64 magazine every month until its release (it didn’t disappoint - absolutely fantastic game). Looking forward to giving Mama Llama another chance and spending more time with Psychedelia!

This has to be one of Hamster’s finest releases so far. I have a fond memory of playing the Amiga 500 version while my dad watched You Rang M’Lord? in the next room. Given the original BBC broadcast dates of that show’s first series, I can pinpoint this memory to 33 years ago this month. Time does indeed fly, unlike kiwis (without vehicles).

Proper classic coin-ops released in recent weeks by Hamster: Galaxian, Pac-Mania, Bubble Bobble and now Galaga - all big names in their day.

Some games I used to spend my school dinner money on that I’d love to see get released: Tutankham, Gyruss, Jail Break (slated for release a couple of years ago), Equites, Vastar, Kung-Fu Master, Tail Gunner, Ambush, Gorf, Battle of Atlantis, Space Firebird, Tazz Mania, Spy Hunter, Mr Do! - there’s too many, I’ll stop now…

@Sinton Absolutely, I nearly fell off my chair when I saw that Galaxian is this week’s release, buried in the text. Bona fide classic and a major milestone in the early development of video games.

I have Atari Flashback Classics but three reasons why I’ll buy this also:

I, Robot
Miner 2049er (Atari 800)
Bounty Bob Strikes Back! (Atari 800)
Jaguar Tempest 2000

Four reasons.

Dark Forces, Quake II and Half-Life!

Just bought Pac-Land and the controls have been implemented beautifully - you don’t have to mash the buttons (or stick) like in the arcade if you don’t want to, there are auto-fire options that allow for constant running and also a button can be assigned to toggle running/walking (should help extend the life of your Joy-Cons).

@Ooyah @Ooyah I loved the C64 version - one of the best home computer arcade conversions ever (even the character set looked like it came from the arcades). Only thing that annoyed me was you couldn’t ride on the ghost car roof like the arcade original (if you touched one you lost a life).

Will be buying this as soon as it appears. Absolutely loved Pac-Land in the ‘80s. Crisp, flat colours like Mr. Men books throughout (except the gorgeous fairy garden). Great controls (and secret bonuses). Like how you can ride around on the ghosts’ car roofs. Couldn’t get near it in our local arcade at school lunchtimes - a giant heavy metal dude with a Motörhead jacket was always hogging it.

Not remembered today the way Space Invaders or Pac-Man is, but Qix was quite a big name in its day, with many copycat versions appearing on home computers throughout the ‘80s. Will be great to play it vertically on the Switch with the FlipGrip.

Genuine Namco classic, wonderful to finally be able to carry this around and play anywhere. What’s really nice is Hamster have included an option to turn-on the start-up screen (Game Settings / Preference settings / Show Boot Screen). Not sure when they started adding that, Pac-Man and Xevious (very pretty start-up display, a “glitch art” classic) also have it, so maybe only Namco games. Would be nice if they updated their older releases with that option, I always feel coin-op emulations aren’t complete without it. Now, how about adding Pac-Land...

Mentioned in a comment on the North American thread - Hamster's Arcade Archives release this week is Time Pilot '84 - a bonafide classic. Along with 1984's Star Force and Nova 2001 (hopefully coming to Switch soon), its revolutionary bas-relief graphics and punchy sound effects influenced many '80s games coders (Chris Butler's "Z" on the C64 springs to mind). No need to mess about in MAME anymore for this one

@SpringDivorce Yes, Time Pilot '84 - bonafide classic! Along with Star Force and Nova 2001 (hopefully coming to Switch soon), its bas-relief graphics and punchy sound effects influenced many '80s games coders (Chris Butler's "Z" on the C64 springs to mind).

Didn’t see this one coming - pleasant surprise! I was addicted to the Kangaroo coin-op back in 1982/83. One of my favourites along with Tutankham and Popeye. Used to wait all week just to play it for an hour or so on Saturday in a Helensburgh (Scotland) arcade. Atari 2600 version was playable, but obviously couldn’t match the colours or resolution of the original. Just bought it, fantastic when rotated 90° with the Flip Grip. Best way I’ve found to jump a gap without falling is not to attempt a diagonal move as such, but instead push up then push left or right.

How the world has changed since I last bought a Hamster Switch release (Frogger on 12th Dec ‘19). Sunset Riders is a must-have for me. Hopefully UPL’s fun shoot-em-up Nova 2001 will get a Switch release at some point (it’s been out on PS4 for years).

@Moroboshi876 I'm on my third set of Joy-Cons after two years (left joystick went wrong twice, mainly playing Zelda BotW). I don't think Track & Field is the worst game for the controllers, as you're only "mashing" one of the two (right Joy-Con) run buttons for a few seconds during the first four events, not like many shoot 'em ups where you can spend several minutes hammering away. It's very playable on handheld, though for best results during the 110 Meter Hurdles I find I have to use both of my thumbs (running with button A and jumping with button B) to qualify, which is one of the reasons I want to get the Hori (Real Arcade Pro wired controller). I'm probably as good (or as bad) playing this on Switch in handheld as I was in '80s arcades with "proper" buttons (currently 66 in the online rankings - I just can't beat the clock once the game loops back to the 100 meter dash)!

Bought it, no idea how long the "run" button will last (may have to invest in a Hori Real Arcade Pro). Absolutely fantastic to re-live the arcade original captured on a handheld device - unthinkable back in the days when we'd lust after the coin-ops but have to make do with lower-spec conversions on our 8-bit computers/consoles. Even the Hammer Throw "cover the main screen and focus on the power bar" trick works better on handheld!

@Bondi_Surfer Yes, I remember doing the sleeve-over-the-fingers technique in a dingy arcade in Scotland circa '84. Haven't had any inclination to buy a Hamster title since Time Pilot in April, but it'll be nice to relive Track & Field without the threat of being knifed.

Will be buying this for Scramble and Gradius II/Vulcan Venture (I'm determined to finally get past the Fire Eagle boss after thirty years of playing).

This is great news, I bought Cuphead on the PC a while back via Steam and it's fantastic - amazing Max Fleischer inspired animation and rock-hard gameplay - but I've got to the point now where I can't be bothered (or have no time) to boot-up the gaming laptop, it's Switch all the way now

Great to finally get a few Konami classics like Scramble and Vulcan Venture (Gradius II) on the Switch, would love to see Hamster produce more oldies from my youth e.g. Tutankham, Gyruss, Juno First, Track & Field, Hyper Sports, Circus Charlie, Green Beret etc.

Moon Cresta. Played this a lot in 1982, took the edge off the pure hell of being in 1st year at secondary school. Nostalgia aside, it's a great little game with lovely warbling, tweeting sound effects that have stayed in my head for over 36 years.