Comments 649

Re: Warren Spector: "Consoles Are Going to be Up Against Some Stiff Competition" in the Home Entertainment Space

Ristar42

I hope console gaming sticks around, maybe it will go back to being more specifically for 'gamers', though I suppose that would be a much smaller market and I wonder if it would actually support an industry. There is so much saturation these days, I sometimes miss the simple days of 90s gaming!
Having said that, I still have all my old consoles, and there is a great interactive history for people to investigate in retro gaming, if they're so inclined.

Re: Talking Point: Review Scores and Unwinnable Arguments

Ristar42

I never worry too much about the numbers, as subjective taste is always going to come into things. As long as a game works, and it is a genre that interests me, if I like the graphics and the gameplay, I don’t get upset that others may not feel the same.

I've recently been playing Double Dragon Neon which I really enjoy, as I like the 80s styling and scrolling beat em up genre, I know its not about to score 10/10, but thats fine.

I understand that reviewers have to create an objective system for the purposes of 'reviewing', but unless there is some fundamental problem with a game, a 6 or 7 wouldn’t put me off if it looks interesting to me.

Its so easy these days to look up gameplay videos these days, and they help me decide if I'm going to buy a game as much as review scores.

Re: Hardware Classics: Sega Mega Drive

Ristar42

After the Master System I went for the Megadrive, Sonic, Shinobi, Streets of Rage, Strider, so many great games even fairly early on.

Mine purchased with Sonic all those years ago is still working fine, but I also have a 2nd console with a 60Hz switch and SCART lead added as the original PAL version didn’t give the greatest picture.

The SNES has great games too, but as I grew up with SEGA consoles, reading SEGA Power and SEGA Force magazines, the Megadrive is especially nostalgic for me.

Re: F-Zero AX Found Hidden In GameCube F-Zero GX

Ristar42

AR was cool, it let you see NES Mario and Zelda in Animal Crossing, and access the test areas in Wind Waker.

You can actually use the GC Action replay that works with the Wii, to load the original GC Action Replay where you can add additional codes, but maybe that gets a bit complicated just for the sake of playing the the game on the Wii...

Re: LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes to the Rescue on Wii U This Spring

Ristar42

Just mentioned this game on the Lego city news as I'm replaying it on PS3 at the moment. The Wii version didn’t lose much, reflections of the city in the rain soaked streets, some lighting effects, textures, the DLC character packs and the fact it loaded the open world in three areas were the only real changes (aside from the controls).

I think its by far the best Lego game I've played (and I was finding them samey up to this point), the level designs were really well done and it’s fun to fly around the open city finding all the collectables, and to replay the levels with different characters.

Re: First Impressions: LEGO City Undercover

Ristar42

I'm currently re-playing Lego Batman 2 on PS3 which I really enjoyed, I played it originally on the Wii. Previously, I'd played the Starwars and Indy games and prior to Batman 2 was finding them a bit samey.

I found Batman 2 to be the best yet, but this looks like it is taking the open world idea even further and looks great. If I had a Wii U, I'd certainly be getting this!

Re: Talking Point: Gamer Protests Can Earn Small Wins From Publishers

Ristar42

Let's not forget that there are still a number of Wii VC games that won’t display at all if you use a component cable (Toe Jam and Earl for example). I don’t think Nintendo's customer services were worried about display complaints, as there can’t be many televisions around that don’t support 60Hz, especially as they now have a console that ships with a HDMI cable.

It just seemed to me that little care or attention (or proper investment) was applied in the VC's administration, the false advertising of Megadrive and Neo Geo imports as running at 60Hz is a good example, or the amount of time it took to remove Last Ninja 3 (only then it seemed, thanks to the efforts of NL user Betagam7).

Miiverse has provided a useful way of making it difficult to ignore complaints, probably not the intention, but good if it makes it easier to get results!

I recently played Revenge of Shinobi on PSN and it includes the 3 regional variations, added features, filter and display modes, multiple save options and a jukebox mode. Its a shame more retro games don’t get this kind of treatment, as Nintendo's consoles have an excellent back catalogue.

Re: The European Version Of F-Zero On Wii U Virtual Console Comes With 60Hz Support

Ristar42

@KodaSmoss You're right, some would require more work, with variations for different systems depending upon how they may have been partially optimised originally. PSN has the problem with many PS1 games, but you can create a US account there I suppose.

Hopefully it will stop the 'downgrading' seen on Wii VC, I'm thinking of those Megadrive and Neo imports for example, which were never previously released in 50Hz.

Re: Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Approaches One Million Sales

Ristar42

I got this on PS3, but I ended up trading it for the PS3 version of the original game, which I used to own on the Wii.
I felt the original was just more fun to play, I found this one quite frustrating, and I preferred the 'miles' approach to unlocking things.
The Golden Axe and Afterburner remix music is great though.

Re: Nintendo Download: 7th February 2013 (Europe)

Ristar42

@Red_Acteur_2 All the post ambassador NES games so far released are also '60Hz' speed on 3DS, including Mega Man (1), thats why I actually buy some of them on there! Hope it stays that way.

Wonder where retro city rampage is?

Re: Balloon Fight On Wii U Reportedly Running At 50Hz in Europe

Ristar42

These are not different versions, its the same ROM, the PAL release is downgraded. This is why we used to mod PAL consoles in the 90s, to run the games at the correct speed. Some were altered and optimised for 50Hz, but it was rare. The emulator they are using must have the option to output 50/60Hz modes, so why not make the option available to PAL gamers, like most Dreamcast games did...

Re: Talking Point: The Emergence of Download-Only Retail Games

Ristar42

I like to buy second hand games, I can also trade in the games I buy. With this download only model, you'd need to have more money to play a variety of games, and you can never get back any of the money you've spent against other purchases. Thats why I'm not buying full price digital downloads. Having said that, I'm mainly a retro gamer and collector anyway...

Re: Talking Point: Time for Wii U to Treat Us Like Adults

Ristar42

Controls are there for parents to use, thats their responsibility. This is very silly, not least as it means most episodes of Nintendo TV on 3DS are now unwatchable because of a few seconds of Zombie U - they are blocking their own promotional videos. I think Nintendo of Europe should change this policy, leave parenting to parents and let adult people who've just paid £300 for a new console download / view content whenever they want to.

Re: Feature: EU Wii U Launch Day - Live!

Ristar42

Once someone who has the PAL version transfers their VC games, can anyone confirm that the Wii U is still displaying them in 50Hz?

As some games don’t display with the EDTV cable on the Wii (for example ToeJam and Earl), I am wondering if Nintendo have done anything to fix the problem.
As Wii U enters 'Wii mode' to play the VC, I'm thinking they haven’t...

Re: The Godfather of Video Games Is Baffled By The Wii U

Ristar42

I wonder if Ralph Baer has an opinion..? Remember hearing an interview with Nolan Bushnell a while back (on Atari Greatest hits Vol2 on DS), he had big hopes for VR gaming I think, said he'd imagined an almost Sci-Fi gaming future! Maybe he just expected gaming to develop in a different way.

Re: Feature: Hands-On With 16-bit RPG Pier Solar

Ristar42

For me, the best way to play Megadrive games remains on an actual Megadrive (as long as its running at 60Hz!). Still have all my original carts from the early 90s, and others I've collected over the years, this looks cool.

Re: Wii U GamePad Will Not Have Backward Compatibility

Ristar42

Suggests the PAL VC will remain 50Hz, not good considering some VC games require switching to a SCART / AV cable in order to get them to display at all on the PAL Wii. I wonder how this will work with Wii U.

Was hoping the shift to Wii U would provide the oppertunity for Nintendo to add a 60Hz display option. At least the NES games on 3DS run at the correct speed.

Re: Wii U Software Storage on USB Devices Detailed

Ristar42

It seems unlikely that this is correct, wouldnt it require a two tier eshop, as any downloads over a certain size would be unavailable to those with the cheaper Wii U? Seems like that would have been mentioned before, if it was the case. Interested to find out!

Re: Feature: Looking Back at Six Years of Wii

Ristar42

The VC should have been a highlight, but the 50Hz standard of most games available in PAL regions was disapointing. Most retro gamers were probably aware of the differences in 60Hz display, so seeing the Megadrive and Neo Geo running with slow gameplay, music, and boarders on the PAL Wii was hardly an incentive to download games for me.
I'm interested to see what happens with the transferal to Wii U, and if Nintendo and their partners intend to properly implement a 60Hz option with the VC, so these games can be played at the correct speed.

Re: Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Running Onto The Japanese eShop

Ristar42

I remember getting this for my Game Gear when it was first released. I think the first Game Gear Sonic is the best, it had its own unique redrawn look from the Master System and slightly redesigned levels. I found the Sequel 'zoomed in' too far to the action, making some sections quite frustrating to play (first boss comes to mind).

Save states will probably help though, hope SEGA bring on the first game soon, as be great to play that on 3DS.

Re: Capcom: The Next Gen Doesn't Start With Wii U

Ristar42

I suppose in terms of what consoles can do graphically, the Wii U does not require a great adaptation from what developers are doing at the moment. I don't think Nintendo are trying to directly compete with cutting edge graphics though, when they had a technically comparable system (the gamecube) it sold far less than the graphically 'inferior' Wii.

I understand a current generation console as one that is currently supported, who knows how many 'bits' we're up to by now...

Re: Commodore 64 Celebrates 30th Birthday

Ristar42

@Bass_X0 I was enjoying C64 support too, finally completed Last Ninja 2 thanks to the Wii VC, on my C64 I could never get the 3rd stage to load off the tape.The support seemed to drop off after the mess up with Last Ninja 3, they should have withdrawn that game a lot sooner as they had to refund the points.

Re: Commodore 64 Celebrates 30th Birthday

Ristar42

Last Ninja 2, love the tunes - C64 Buggy Boy, excellent version and instantly recognise those 'chimes' as you collect flags and go through the gates! Got the C64 with the 'Hollywood Pack' back in the day, Platoon, Rambo, the Great Escape - and tape loading was worth it if you got to listen to the Ocean Loader music.
We had the BBC Micro in school back then though, played games like 'Grannys Garden', good memories!

Re: You Can Transfer Wii VC Games to Wii U

Ristar42

@Betagam7 I agree, if Nintendo are going to continue to offer a VC service on Wii U, they will need to address this issue. We probably wont find out until the console launches and someone transfers their games. Lets hope someone at Nintendo is looking at ways to improve the VC for PAL gamers.

Re: Review: Wonder Boy in Monster Land (Wii Virtual Console / Virtual Console Arcade)

Ristar42

I really enjoy this game, it balances arcade gameplay with a bit of exploration, strategy and character upgrading - really tough bosses, the autofire on my Hori arcade stick helped!

Managed to get to the last (maze like) stage then must have forgot to add credits, or you cant continue from there, as found myself at the title screen when I lost. Another very worthwhile SEGA VC arcade release. Also runs in 60Hz in PAL regions, with a nice scan line option on the emulator for that 80s look.