Ristar24

This weekend be likely playing some Terminator 2D: No Fate on Switch, Neon Inferno and Dirt 5 on PS4, Home Alone and OutRun on the Mega Drive, and SEGA Rally and OutRun on the Saturn. Maybe I'll also play some Christmas Nights on Saturn, tis the season afterall.

PS4 performance was quite disappointing too, I picked the game up there a while back and didn't seem to be a stable 30fps, not sure if was uncapped but was very distracting playing the game. I was wondering how it would even work on Switch one, as PS4 was struggling.

@DennyCrane Yes, there was a certain coldness to some stages, but overall a great game. If only Namco had gone with that Switch version could have been the best racer on the platform, Ridge Racer doesn't even need analog triggers.

@DennyCrane That's right, one of my favourite games, Ridge Racer 7 had the option.

Well they should, stop passing on the storage cost and put the game on the cartridge would be preferable for me. I hear the speed problem, which only really should apply to big budget open world games with lots of streaming, if is the case.

@DennyCrane yep, or have an option. I remember some PS3 games let you install to improve performance from the disc alone.

To be honest, this generation has priced me out. I'm not willing to pay these prices for video games, and the PS5 and Switch 2 I don't see myself purchasing for some time for what they offer. PS4 is excellent value at the moment though, and the games still look pretty great to me, still playing my OLED too. Also going back to retro on the Mega Drive and Saturn as I have good collections of games there. I started with the Atari and C64, so first generation I've probably skipped, or at least I might just get to current gen when its last gen.

Honestly, I'd beware some of their updates, I recall they made Star Wars Battlefront on Switch worst. Introduced framerate issues and glitches in textures not present at launch. I've not downloaded in ages to see if they fixed their 'fixes'. I found this one OK on my OLED to be honest, not quite finished the game but acceptable version and fun to play as I'd not replayed since PS3.

I'm at work so weekend delayed until tomorrow, but once have some gaming time, I picked up Home Alone on the Mega Drive as its almost Christmas, and I'd always meant to get around to playing it. It's not a bad game, nice music, unusual design, crafting and some simple strategy, fun game to figure out. Also on Mega Drive might play through Streets of Rage. Aside from that will be the new Terminator 2D: No Fate on Switch, need to play through again for the alternative stages, also really back into trying to beat my times on SEGA Rally Championship on the Saturn.

I don't think the stages feel like a collection of bonus levels, any more than you could describe most retro games. You could say something similar about Midnight Resistance, but it's still one of my favourite games ever. It's pretty fun, the look kind of reminds me of The Terminator on the Mega drive, which I still like despite its ultra short length and design flaws. This game mixes up a bit of Contra, Data East's RoboCop, Elevator Action Returns, Rolling Thunder, I really enjoyed my first playthrough on Easy and need to unlock the other paths and move to the next difficulty level. Music is also excellent.

There is a bit of slow down in the game, but only when the larger machines you fight as bosses explode. I'm not sure whether this is intended or not, but its very faithful to a lot of hectic moments in 16-bit games and doesn't impact the gameplay at all, which is very smooth on my OLED either portable or docked.

This failure is your saviour? Can Wesker really hold a candle to the magnificent Goldman from House of the Dead.

@darkswabber I think the base PS4 version I last played was 30fps too (if I recall), but honestly it should have ran at 60fps there too. The input lag sounds really unacceptable here though, and that bloated file size. I guess must be better than where I first played the game, the infamous PS3 version, but that would be faint praise indeed.

@LUIGITORNADO Ha maybe, the soundtrack is outstanding... I liked replaying Prime, great game. I'll still give this one a go at some point.

@BLD I had to look up what a goober was! I see your point, but I liked Solaire, he was quite tragic by the end, at least when I first played. Maybe if he was on the radio throughout I'd feel different. As I say, I'll still give Prime 4 a play at some point, only way to get a really good sense of the game.

I'm still rather put off I'll be honest with the change in tone of these chattering NPCs, the clips I've seen, it's jarring. I keep thinking, imagine what something like that would do to the ambiance of Dark Souls, and Prime captured that silent oppressive atmosphere so well before. Remastered on Switch was outstanding. I'll probably still play the game at some point as I liked the first two games a lot when they were new, and be good to form my opinion in the context of playing the game in practice. Good to know it performs well on Switch one (as I've not purchased the newer console).

I like Digital Foundry, particularly when John does the retro content and Rich is legendary for anyone who read Mean Machines back in the day.

I've never been a card collector but isn't it supposed to be fun? It's why I mostly don't bother collecting retro games anymore, people inflate the prices. I only buy cheap games that I'll actually play these days.

Picked up Alex Kidd in Shinobi World for the Master System this week, I enjoyed the game on the Wii VC but nice to have the cart and play in 60Hz on real hardware (the Wii VC was back when Nintendo gave us 50Hz versions in PAL territories). It's a really great little platform adventure. Also playing Desert Strike, Super Monaco GP, OutRun 2019 (very futuristic) and F1 on the Mega Drive as feel like some 16-bit racing. The most modern I'll get is probably SEGA Rally Championship on Saturn, I'm yet to find a modern arcade racer since which is a fun as that game. Only Daytona and OutRun 2 come close for me.

I've pretty much decided not to purchase a Switch 2 for the moment, so if I do get the game at some point would be on my trusty OLED.

The gameplay with the chattering npcs and 'radio buddies' seemed really jarring to the atmosphere to me. We see a beautiful landscape, the music swells and we hear a very generic npc tell us 'it's beautiful'. A simple puzzle is used to open a door and we hear the same npc exclaim 'did that door just open by itself?' To me it feels like such an unnecessary commentary which undercuts what the (evidently outstanding) world design is achieving, imagine something like that in Elden Ring. I really did like the first two, Metroid Prime was like nothing else at the time and replaying remastered when it was released, it's still a brilliant and unique game for me. I'll definitely be watching some more gameplay before I make a purchase on this one.

The first game remastered is probably still my favourite. It managed to make the cinematic platformer 3D, it's grid based and movement requires precision for platforming. 2013 takes a lot from Uncharted, the movie spectacle style sequences, the 3rd person shooting. It's fun to play the shooting galleries, but the platforming is pretty much automated and the tomb puzzles are a side line. I played the first on the Saturn at the time and it's so different from what the series would become. I only finished Tomb Raider 2 recently as I never had a PS1, but I still think the first is the best, too many human enemies in the second considering combat is not it's strong point.

Looks like a lot of talking, and I know it's been said elsewhere but Metroid really did have an atmosphere of loneliness and isolation, that sense of exploring an alien world alone is for me part of the appeal of the series, which this doesn't really sit well with. I'll wait and see, but it does seem be moving away from the atmosphere I enjoyed in the older games. Still want to try the game, so ultimately I'll reserve judgement after waiting all these years.

I moved recently so still unpacking some retro stuff, came across my Saturn RAM carts so may play some X-Men Vs. Street Fighter, King of Fighters 97 and Metal Slug. Also found my PAL version of Bubble Bobble featuring Rainbow Islands and forgot how nice the enhanced Rainbow Islands version looks, will probably give that a go. On Mega Drive maybe some Revenge of Shinobi and Shadow Dancer.

On the more modern side, still playing the new Tomb Raider 2013 release on Switch which is more fun than I thought to replay. I've actually repurchased Rise on PS4, I forgot I played it before but my PS4 says otherwise as I have trophies in my list from 2017.

The ability to play music on the bike seems a strange one, that sounds like it should be a basic feature, it can't be silent otherwise so perhaps just lets you pick different music...we'll see.

Booting up the PS3 where I first played this one back in 2013, I immediately noticed some elements looked cut back on Switch, the removal of shadows do have some impact on the atmosphere. Having said that, I also own the base PS4 version as bought it on sale a while back, but the inconsistent 40-50fps and constant juddering really impacts the gameplay to the point I stopped playing. I think the cutbacks to get a consistent 60fps are worth it if you own a Switch 2, I'm playing on Switch 1 and I'd still take the mostly consistent 30fps over the base PS4 version. I presume playing on PS4 Pro or PS5 are best, but I don't own those consoles. I did just pick up Rise on PS4 though as thought I'd replay that next and it looks still looks outstanding on base PS4, and thankfully has a proper 30fps cap. I'm certainly still enjoying replaying this one on my OLED Switch 1 though.

One weird oversight on Switch is later in the game, when Lara looks in a mirror (to thematically reflect on how she has changed, a significant moment in the story) and the reflection present on PS3 is completely missing.

I have the Switch version and booted up the PS3 game I had at launch, and base PS4 version for comparison. Id still take the Switch version's mostly stable 30fps over the much better looking but unstable 40-50fps on base PS4 (which I'm sure is much better on the Pro or PS5). PS3 actually looks better and more atmospheric than Switch one in some ways, but I'm still enjoying replaying the game for the first time in years.

After being quite impressed with the RAD2X on Saturn, I picked up the Mega Drive version so playing some Master System and Mega Drive carts. On Mega Drive thinking some Streets of Rage, Batman, Hyperstone Heist and maybe some Shadowrun. Master System wise, I may play some Double Dragon or Sonic. Also SEGA Rally on Saturn and I picked up Rougecraft DX on Evercade / Amiga.

I did end up buying the new release of Tomb Raider for my OLED Switch and its comparable to the PS3 version I played in 2013, still a good game.

I went ahead and bought for Switch 1, I played it pretty extensively back on PS3 at lauch 2013, but long enough ago that it's fun to play again. I did get the PS4 version a while back (I only have the base console) but the framerate was just too inconsistent to enjoy. Switch 1 is more playable as mostly at 30. I did load up the PS3 original though (still have my save file) and in some ways it seems to look better than the Switch port which is suprising, but nice to have it portable on the OLED.

Just tried my base PS4 version again and while it looks better, the performance is less than optimal, 40-50fps and not smooth at all. Suprised they never patched a 30fps cap mode as would have been more playable. Think they made the right decision with the graphics settings on Switch if that was a trade off to get better fps.

@Olliemar28 Does it consistently hit 60fps, PS4 tried, but mostly failed. This looks like a mash up of the PS3 and PS4 version so Switch 2 may well hit it consistently. I'd also be interested in whether Switch 1 has a proper 30fps cap with good frame pacing as don't own the new console if Nintendo Life have the chance to test it on the original.

This was good on PS3, I enjoyed the game at the time. Bought on PS4 recently and I don't think it's aged very well at all, also the PS4 had a 30-60fps which was worst than I remembered on PS3, which I think was locked to 30fps. I much preferred revisiting the original I played all those years ago on the Saturn in the remastered version.

As its mid November, going back to Batman: Arkham Origins on PS3, I think I preferred his one to Knight despite it not being part of the 'trilogy'. The Christmas setting in the city still has great atmosphere, even on PS3 I still think it looks good. Also as I'm using the console, have to play some classic Daytona USA.

Even more retro wise, I picked up the new DLC for Atari 50 on Switch, playing 2600 Dig Dug after all these years is still fun, and very nostalgic.

Not had much gaming time lately so mainly shorter retro or arcade style games. Night Striker Gear, Operation Wolf, OutRun, SEGA Rally on the Saturn. I also played the NES version of Last Ninja (2) on Switch as waiting for the new collection from System 3, might play through the superior C64 version this weekend.

I first became aware of the site when it merged with VC Reviews, so 2013 I think. Didn't know was around in 2005! Congrats on 20 years.

No, I've played them before on Wii and though I liked the games, I think this is too expensive for what they offer so I just wont buy them.

Busy weekend but currently replaying The Evil Within on PS4. Still a good game despite the performance issues. Also Mad Max on PS4 which has been fun to go back to and make some more progress. Retro wise picked up Toaplan Arcade Collection 2 on Evercade so will be trying to see if I can get any better at Hellfire, played the Mega Drive version years ago and it's a tough shooter.

I was never as bowled over as a lot of people were with these games. I liked them a lot and bought both on Wii, but they still didn't make the impact of Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World or Mario 64 for me. I'd not be buying them again personally as I still have my Wii hooked up with a component cable, still looks OK to me. Maybe if they're on sale at some point for portable play sake.

It's It's a great engine, playing RE4 remake on PS4 slim at the moment and it runs suprisingly well.

Slightly less retro than usual for me, I bought PS4 Max Max for less than £4 in the current PSN sale and picked up where I left the game in 2016. Its very formulaic in its structure, but the game has great atmosphere and the graphics are still outstanding. Also picked up The Evil Within for about the same price, started replaying and I'd forgot the game doesn't have great performance on PS4, but again it does have a really striking atmosphere and visual design. Has me more on edge than the RE4 remake, which I'm also playing for the first time.

Retro wise may play some Famicom Castlevania on the Anniversary collection.

@TryToBeHopeful I mostly play retro games, but either way, I'd rather buy something digitally that this. Yes modern games almost all require patches, which is also far from ideal, but at least they mostly work to some degree.

I maintain the view that these key cards are quite rubbish, and literally so once you can no longer download the associated data.

@MeloMan I agree, it's certainly accessible on easy as I managed to complete the game, plus you get a password and can try on normal with your upgrades. I'm not great at shooters but had a lot of fun with Earthion already, will be moving up to normal.

@Duncanballs Yes, I was suprised the Mega Drive port of Speedball 2 even lacks the nice court graphics of the Amiga, it has the more basic version from the Atari ST. Also realised the Evercade is actually the US Genesis version, so it lacks the better music and the option to play music during matches thats present in the PAL version. At least Bitmap 2 on Evercade has the Amiga versions of games.

Finally finished Gods on the Amiga (on Evercade). A game I started on my friend's Atari ST probably about 35 years ago and we never did complete it. Only had to check a walkthrough once or twice, so not bad. Might continue the Bitmap Brothers theme with the SNES version of the Chaos Engine on Evercade or Speedball 2 on the A500 Mini.

On Switch, have to play some more Earthion, what a amazing new shooter, I'd forgot about the Switch release until I saw it on the eShop. Also been playing some Operation Wolf and Space Gun in the Operation Night Strikers Collection.

Finally, been playing Power Drift and working on my best times in SEGA Rally on Saturn, not as good as I used to be, but getting the RAD2X really has me playing the console again.

I dunno, that desert didn't look as good as Mad Max on PS4, but I'll reserve judgement for now. As a Switch owner, its been a long wait and as I'm skipping Switch 2 for now, this is likey the last big first party Nintendo game I will play for a while. I'm still looking forward to the game, just hope its it's not like Arkham Knight where I felt they kept trying to bring the Batmobile into play too often.

Think I'll load up Great Giana Sisters on my C64 later in honor, ha. I think I've completed Super Mario Bros but only one friend I knew had a NES as kid. Was mostly Spectrum, C64, Amstrad, Amiga and Atari ST here in the UK at the time.

Last week I obtained a RAD2X for my Saturn so have been playing some of my favourite games on the console. This weekend be some more SEGA Rally, which I still think is one of the best arcade racer ports ever made, plus some other great sprite based racers, OutRun (with the correct car sprite), Power Drift and Chase H.Q.

Also the Saturn version of Road Rash is really good fun (and the music very much takes me back to the 90s), and I've restarted Panzer Dragoon Saga, I never did finish the game as the battery save in my console had died.

I certainly won't be buying these games again at that price, or a Switch 2 any time soon, it's all become far too expensive.

It's so weird to me that these retro style games aren't 60fps to begin with, even with original Switch level tech these days. Just feels like the priorities are wrong to me.

I must finally buy Zwei, for my Saturn. I have the first one and Saga. Currently looking at buying a decent upscaler to get back into Saturn gaming. I have the remake of the first one, it's not too great though to be fair its the Switch version so maybe better on more powerful hardware.

This weekend will continue my replay of PS1 Resident Evil 2 on PS4, currently on Claire scenario B and this game is still as good as it ever was, even after the remake. On Switch playing the original PS1 Fear Effect release that just came out (first time playing this one).

On Evercade I'll try play some more of God's on the Amiga and recently picked up the Codemasters collection, so some Sensible Soccer on the MegaDrive. Also might play some Treasure Island on the Spectrum, if I'm feeling particularly nostalgic.

@AppleBlade See your point but seeing Mario 64 running, coming from 8-bit micros and 16-bit consoles, was something else. The impact of that shift into such a well designed 3D world genuinely felt like a new era in gaming, and I started on Atari 2600. In the UK it also launched with Shadows of the Empire and that battle of Hoth intro stage, wow. Probably only matched for me by the Dreamcast and then the PS360.

I've not bought one and not feeling the need to, no games I am really enthusiastic to buy the console for and the screen doesn't look as nice as the OLED which I own. A lot of the retro stuff I like is also still coming to the original Switch. I wonder if its going to be like PS5, where I just stuck with my PS4 and retro gaming (and it still gets the PS1 and PS2 classics which interest me more than new games anyway). It's all got so expensive too.