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Post by Ex on Dec 6, 2020 22:52:06 GMT -5
AFAIK before the 7th gen, PAL console games ran at 50hz. Which caused less than ideal compromises when 60hz NTSC games were ported to PAL systems. Yep. To be precise, they generally ran approximately 16.7% slower as a result. Which might sound like a relatively low number, but it's very obvious when you play. I guess that means European kids had slower reflexes than USA/Japanese kids.
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Post by toei on Dec 6, 2020 22:55:14 GMT -5
I wonder how much it contributed to weird old computer games remaining popular for a while in markets like the UK.
Also, this whole thing never affected arcade games, so the contrast between action games in the arcades and console ports much have looked even greater.
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Post by Ex on Dec 6, 2020 23:36:07 GMT -5
I wonder how much it contributed to weird old computer games remaining popular for a while in markets like the UK. I'm reminded of games like Psygnosis' Agony, a shmup starring an owl. Speaking of unusual games, I was reminded yesterday that this exists: "Roommania #203 is a simulation game first released for Dreamcast in 2000 and later released on PlayStation 2 in 2002. It follows the life of Neji Taihei, a student living out a mediocre existence in Japan. The game is described as an 'intervention' simulator, where the player takes the role of God whose task is to make Neji's life more meaningful. The game's writer and composer Tomoko Sasaki cited an obsession with internet webcams as her inspiration for the game's story and mechanics. A sequel was released for the PS2 in 2003, New Roommania Porori Seishun." I remember my roommate really wanted this game back in 2000, he eventually downloaded a copy. He was super excited to play it, and did play it for like a week. Despite the fact he couldn't read a single word of Japanese. I doubt he even knew what he was doing, but he found this game to be super fascinating. (I didn't.) And speaking of unusual Dreamcast games, I had no idea this existed until recently: This game is called " The Typing of the Date", a play on the popular The Typing of the Dead. This is a dating simulation, but it uses the Dreamcast Keyboard. I'm not sure how The Typing of the Date's gameplay even works. But if I could play it in English, I'd definitely give it a one handed try.
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Post by Ex on Dec 7, 2020 2:23:18 GMT -5
Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage
Tonight I took down Nosferatu Zodd and saved at the Mandragoran Belthazar (Balzak) fight. All Normal difficulty thus far. I don't think I have a whole lot left, maybe I'll have this one beat with my next session.
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Post by Chema on Dec 7, 2020 5:46:27 GMT -5
Also, were PAL games any different by this era? Performance wise.
Also, were PAL games any different by this era? Performance wise.
Yes. It's an issue I've dealt with with PS2 games. Some games were optimized to make up for it, though. AFAIK before the 7th gen, PAL console games ran at 50hz. Which caused less than ideal compromises when 60hz NTSC games were ported to PAL systems. According to the Internet, most Dreamcast PAL games can run at 60hz, which is very surprising to me. segaretro.org/List_of_50Hz-only_PAL_Dreamcast_games#Action_Replay_CDX_codes
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Post by Xeogred on Dec 7, 2020 9:48:59 GMT -5
I keep playing some Carrier, but I think I might officially put it on ice now. The more I glance over some videos or a guide, the longer the game appears to be than I initially suspected. Ultimately it's alright but I'm not sure I have a few more hours of this in me. The setting is really one note so that doesn't help. The level design hasn't been anything too special either. Just a lot of hallways and rooms, without the intricate non-linearity you get with other games in this genre. I did finally get a machine gun and some other tools. Enemies have been generic zombies, plant head zombies, tiny dinosaur like things, and I fought two rather boring bosses. The game is decently made but yeah, nothing super special in 2020. It's in that 6/10 range probably, "for the fans only" and your mileage will still vary.
For my tastes Galerians and TRAG / Hard Edge are kind of the peak in good RE-likes that I've played so far. The Dreamcast does have Alone in the Dark - The New Nightmare, maybe I'll give that another look sometime.
As a Dreamcast novice I think there's surely some better stuff I can check out. I still don't have anything beaten on my HLTB list for this console. Hopefully something clicks!
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Post by Ex on Dec 7, 2020 11:30:19 GMT -5
According to the Internet, most Dreamcast PAL games can run at 60hz, which is very surprising to me. That is very surprising to me as well. From that link you provided; "The Sega Dreamcast was the first home video game console to support a "PAL60" screen mode". Yeah, never heard of "PAL60" mode at all, nor that the Dreamcast was the first to support the concept. I had heard of using modification devices (like Action Replay) to force 60hz in PAL games. Though that modification usually made the output image off center, so it still wasn't ideal. That said, I've run into PAL PS2 games which had a 50/60hz selector built into the options menu.
I keep playing some Carrier, but I think I might officially put it on ice now. The game is decently made but yeah, nothing super special in 2020. It's in that 6/10 range probably Fair enough, and I appreciate you playing Carrier and talking to us about it. I want to stress that Club Retro is more about playing and talking about old games, more than it is about finishing them. We all know not every game is worth the trouble of beating, but every game is worth talking about good or bad, for communal knowledge. I worry some folks might think Club Retro is all about beating games, and thus may be discouraged to participate - nay, just play stuff and talk about it, first and foremost. So in this regard, I've learned more about Carrier than I once knew. And it was interesting to see your opinion contrasted against @tsumuri 's (may he rest in peace?) prior one.
For example, I have sampled and dropped these this month: Due to the fighter jets on the cover, I was expecting AeroWings to be a jet fighting game. But from what I played, it was not. Instead it was a flight simulator without combat. Which is -okay-, but not what I was looking for. I prefer to make things blow up while I fly, and by that I don't mean my own plane via crashing into the ground. Airforce Delta does include jet fighting, it's all about that actually. Unfortunately this is a poor man's half-assed clone of Ace Combat, being not nearly as good as its inspiration. I appreciate Konami's intent, but their skill was lacking, and this game is a chore to play as a result. This was the third game in this series that I've tried. The PS2's AirForce Delta Strike has impressive visuals and decent plot exposition, but it is incredibly punitive in asinine ways (long story). However, I did finish AirForce Delta Storm on Xbox. Storm wasn't amazing, but it was at least somewhat enjoyable to play.
I think if you keep experimenting you will come across some hits. Maybe not on the survival horror front (maybe try Illbleed?), but the DC has lots of great action games in general.
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Post by Xeogred on Dec 7, 2020 12:47:20 GMT -5
I keep playing some Carrier, but I think I might officially put it on ice now. The game is decently made but yeah, nothing super special in 2020. It's in that 6/10 range probably Fair enough, and I appreciate you playing Carrier and talking to us about it. I want to stress that Club Retro is more about playing and talking about old games, more than it is about finishing them. We all know not every game is worth the trouble of beating, but every game is worth talking about good or bad, for communal knowledge. I worry some folks might think Club Retro is all about beating games, and thus may be discouraged to participate - nay, just play stuff and talk about it, first and foremost. So in this regard, I've learned more about Carrier than I once knew. And it was interesting to see your opinion contrasted against @tsumuri 's (may he rest in peace?) prior one.
I think if you keep experimenting you will come across some hits. Maybe not on the survival horror front (maybe try Illbleed?), but the DC has lots of great action games in general.
No worries, I think this is something I've noticed more about myself. So I haven't really gotten that vibe from the Club Retro. I do kind of think when I approach a game I overwhelm myself with the idea that I have to finish it haha. So I don't think I've mentioned it in the thread much but yeah, because I'm a novice on the DC, and maybe overthink the simple idea of tackling games, I just want to focus more on sampling stuff this month. I know it's something others do for sure. Or you got Sarge with 50 games ongoing and stuff he played 20 years ago that he might pick up again.
Not to sound like I don't drop games or beat everything. Absolutely not. But I've definitely noticed I don't sample or jump into games as easily as others here do. Can't even really explain it well either. Just know that I'm trying to process this month differently... but life is still hectic and Cyberpunk is dropping this weekend too.
Think I want to keep a list too:
- Giga Wing 1 = blah - Giga Wing 2 = blah - Gunbird 2 = Seems very cool and worth a run, probably a quick arcade bite sized experience too. - Rush 2049 = awesome, but I played the N64 one to death so it's nothing too new or much to talk about. It did make me think there's something strange about this era of racing games that I still like. I have a few more DC racing games to check out. - WWF Attitude / Royal Rumble = fun for a minute. The THQ N64 wrestling games were the peak of this genre to me and I can't really get into anything else. - Carrier = Put about 2 hours in-game, but maybe more like 3 real time. Competently made and a decent survival horror RE clone, but nothing mind blowing.
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Post by Sarge on Dec 7, 2020 14:25:00 GMT -5
Speaking to trying games but not sticking with them, I've played the following so far:
Jet Grind Radio - Jumping in with a later save isn't the best move. I remember why it frustrated me to some extent - I hate how stages are timed. I just want to free-wheel on the map and find stuff. Silver - I might jump back into this one. It's an action-RPG that was originally on PC. The control scheme betrays some of the mouse/keyboard roots, but since I'm coming off of The Last Ninja, they're more intuitive to me now than when I played many years ago. Dynamite Cop - Can I make a confession? I think I'm realizing that I don't much care for Sega's 3D beat-'em-ups. Or most 3D beat-'em-ups in general, if I'm being perfectly honest. Many of them just don't have a sense of impact like I want. Still, DC definitely takes the cake when it comes to silliness. Elemental Gimmick Gear - We shall see if this is the playthrough that sticks. My issues have always come when I have to do the stupid spinning obstacle courses.
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Post by Xeogred on Dec 7, 2020 17:50:57 GMT -5
Another "sampling"...
I kind of want to say that the entire "arena car combat" genre might be best left in the past... or is just the type of game you cherish most together with friends in person. I actually did play a lot of the Vigilante 8 games back on the N64, since I got a PSX later and never had the Twisted Metal games myself. Definitely played those and the demo discs at some friends though. But yeah, jumping into such a game now, doing Arcade mode or whatever, it gets boring after the first match or whatever haha. It's a weird concept in retrospect, the chunkiness of controlling vehicles in some ugly arena maps and trying to chase other bots/vehicles just to shoot them down and be the last vehicle rolling. Not much incentive here to play solo or put much time into it now. Maybe to unlock some new characters or something.
Now this game, seems freaking good. Way more competently made than Carrier. Some good jump scares in the early going, top notch atmosphere and a good gothic art direction, great music, etc. This is one I'll definitely want to sink my teeth into sometime. But I don't know if I want to play it now. Very promising though.
Still getting a weird itch to keep going with Carrier...
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