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Post by Ex on Mar 22, 2020 11:10:15 GMT -5
If you have questions about Club Retro, this is the thread to ask them in.
Concept:Club Retro is meant to be a community building event, by which HRG members participate via playing video games that fit a particular monthly theme. Each year's twelve monthly themes are chosen at the end of the preceding year by HRG members in this thread. The rules for participating in a Club Retro monthly thread are simple. You just play a game(s) that is at least ten years old, which matches that month's theme. You are then encouraged to talk about your experience with the game(s) you are playing, as well as talk with other participants about the game(s) they are playing, in that month's thread. This simple concept helps HRG's community in multiple ways. It builds forum discussion, promotes vintage video game playing, and pushes participants outside their gaming comfort zones - helping those players become more developed and experienced gamers. Current Club Retro Theme List:2022
January = Square VS Enix
February = PS1 JRPGs
March = Platformers with Swords
April = 16-bit Capcom VS Konami
May = Back to 2001
June = Hudson Soft
July = TGCD/PCECD Games
August = Back to 1997
September = Missed Classics
October = Back to 1995
November = Dungeons & Dragons
December = Members Recommend
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Post by Sarge on Mar 22, 2020 14:01:29 GMT -5
This next month is going to be firmly in my wheelhouse... but it probably is for everyone else, here, too.  |
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Post by Ex on Mar 22, 2020 15:32:42 GMT -5
This next month is going to be firmly in my wheelhouse... but it probably is for everyone else, here, too. It's true not every theme is going to be super esoteric. (For example, I'd love to convince you guys to have a SCUBA diving game month, but then I'd be the only one playing.  ) I think it's best for us to have a mix of broad themes and specialized themes, alternating month to month... for variety's sake. And it's good to have breathing room to allow folks to explore their own backlog library for titles they've yet beaten. |
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Post by paulofthewest on Apr 19, 2020 15:19:33 GMT -5
I know it might be a little early to plan for next month, but any recommendation for Genesis/SNES?
I figured it would be easier if I just list the games I've played for those two systems:
Genesis: Sonic (the first one), Ecco the Dolphin, Beyond Oasis, and Light Crusader
SNES: Super Mario World, Crono Trigger, FF6, FF4, ActRaiser, Clay Fighter, Street Fighter 2, Contra II, Demon's Crest, Gradius III, Kirby Super Star, Secret of Mana & SD3, Soul Blazer, Castlevania IV, Super Metroid, Turtles 4
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Post by Xeogred on Apr 19, 2020 18:25:13 GMT -5
I know it might be a little early to plan for next month, but any recommendation for Genesis/SNES? I figured it would be easier if I just list the games I've played for those two systems: Genesis: Sonic (the first one), Ecco the Dolphin, Beyond Oasis, and Light Crusader SNES: Super Mario World, Crono Trigger, FF6, FF4, ActRaiser, Clay Fighter, Street Fighter 2, Contra II, Demon's Crest, Gradius III, Kirby Super Star, Secret of Mana & SD3, Soul Blazer, Castlevania IV, Super Metroid, Turtles 4 Is that your full 16bit playthrough list? Interesting.
Ristar gets a high recommendation from me for the Genesis. Gorgeous game too. It's a bit slower movement wise and all, very different from Sonic.
SNES wise one thing that quickly popped out to me missing from that list, the Donkey Kong Country games? All three are excellent, with DKC1 still being my favorite and an essential game I'd say.
Definitely check out Yoshi's Island too! I frankly think Yoshi peaked right then and there. Yoshi's Story, the new ones, etc, are not even in the same league as Island to me. It's a huge game and the difficulty really ramps up after awhile. It's a big adventure and pretty unique game. I go a bit longer in between my replays of this one, last I remember I thought it was kind of falling off my rankings, but then I finally hit it up again a few years ago and was surprised by how dang good it was. Now I tend to remember that haha, it's one of the best on the system to me. Just don't totally expect a traditional Super Mario game here, it's very different.
I forget how exactly we're defining the "mascot" part of next month, but yeah those are strongly tied to their respective systems for sure.
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Post by paulofthewest on Apr 19, 2020 19:01:18 GMT -5
Is that your full 16bit playthrough list? Interesting. Yes. I'm all over NES, N64, GC/PS2/Dreamcast, and PC. I just skipped that 16-bit era. Now, I did play the Mega Man X series on the Mega Man X collection for GC. I probably should go through the Donkey Kong Country games, but Yoshi's Island and Ristar do look more interesting. |
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Post by Sarge on Apr 19, 2020 19:44:19 GMT -5
Yoshi's Island is top-tier gaming for sure.
My favorite DKC was the first game, but others think DKC2 is the best. Everyone sleeps on DKC3, which I probably liked slightly more than DKC2.
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Post by Ex on Apr 19, 2020 21:37:22 GMT -5
anayo paulofthewest Sarge toei Xeogred I was going to ask this question soon, now is as good a time as ever... How are we going to define "Mascot Platformer"? How is that sub-genre different than another kind of platformer? I've got a vague idea of what "Mascot Platformer" means to me, but I'd like to see everyone else's opinion first. I'm sure we can all come to some sort of consensus on this definition.
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Post by Sarge on Apr 19, 2020 23:05:26 GMT -5
Honestly, in my mind, it's all the hop-and-bop, somewhat cutesy-styled characters that were somewhat common on NES, but really felt like they came into their own after Sonic burst on the scene, and surviving for the most part through the PS2 era. 16-bit stuff that comes to mind includes games like Aero the Acrobat, Bubsy, Awesome Possum, Rocket Knight Adventures, Ristar, and so forth. I'd probably be willing to throw a lot of Disney games into that bundle, too.
Fifth-gen titles might include Banjo-Kazooie, Crash, Spyro, Ape Escape, Rayman, and of course Mario 64 counts.
Sixth-gen always brings to mind the holy triumvirate of Sly, Ratchet, and Jak on PS2 (even if I don't much care for the last one). Stuff like Billy Hatcher, Tak and the Power of Juju, a lot of the Pac-Man World games come to mind as well.
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Post by anayo on Apr 20, 2020 10:48:25 GMT -5
Mascot: a video game character used to represent the video game console upon which they are featured in publicity, advertising, etc. as an ambassador of their brand. Mascots often fight other mascots who represent competing companies. Mascots tend to be animals although this is characteristic optional. It is not optional for the mascot to have 'tude. Mascots tend to be lighthearted, but can be vulgar (see Conker's Bad Fur Day). Mascots tend to be 3-4 heads tall, making them look diminutive. If we lived in the reality shown in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit", mascots would be from Roger Rabbit's world. A character like Blacksad would not qualify as a mascot. If you were to drop an anvil on a mascot's head, it would harm them, but not permanently, and the effect would be comedic. We aren't supposed to laugh when a non-mascot is subjected to the same abuse.
Mario 64, despite starring a human, is a mascot platformer, as Mario represents the Nintendo brand, jumps on platforms, and is 3 heads tall.
The Prince of Persia Sands of Time is not a mascot platformer. The hero jumps on platforms, but does not represent any brand and is 7 heads tall.
Starfox Adventures is not a mascot platformer. Fox McCloud is an animal with 'tude, jumps on platforms, and represents the Nintendo brand. However, the game emphasizes cerebral puzzle solving akin to Zelda, not jumping on platforms. Also, Fox is 5 heads tall.
Sonic R is not a mascot platformer. The game features animals with 'tude who represent the Sega brand and are 3 heads tall. However, the game mainly revolves around racing.
Fur Fighters is not a mascot platformer. The game features animals with 'tude who are also 3 heads tall, but mainly revolves around shooting, not jumping on platforms.
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) I think it's best for us to have a mix of broad themes and specialized themes, alternating month to month... for variety's sake. And it's good to have breathing room to allow folks to explore their own 
