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Post by Xeogred on Dec 2, 2021 22:29:19 GMT -5
Don't mess with Lara Croft. You know you might be in for some 1997 3D jank when a vehicle pops up. Hah, it was goofier than the boat, but not too bad. I don't recall TR1 having any controllable vehicles, so I bet this was a "new and improved" tagline they boasted about for the sequel.
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Post by Ex on Dec 2, 2021 23:37:34 GMT -5
Title: Chippoke Ralph no Daibouken ( The Adventure of Little Ralph) Platform: PlayStation Region release played: Japan Year of release: 1999 Developer: New Publisher: New Graphics: 4/5 Audio: 3/5 Challenge: 4/5 Fun factor: 4/5 Quick Thoughts: Chippoke Ralph no Daibouken is a Japan-only arcade-style action-platformer which remains obscure to this day. The plot is told through quite a few text boxes, but unfortunately this game remains Japanese only (no English fan trans yet). The majority of the gameplay focuses on high precision platforming whilst slicing baddies to bits. There are occasional boss battles however, wherein the gameplay changes into 2D fighting, both forms of gameplay are well done. Being a 2D 1999 release on a platform that applauded 3D, The Adventure of Little Ralph was clearly a love letter to skilled fans of retro gaming. +Graphics are like SNES on steroids. +Tight responsive controls. +Stiff oldschool challenge. +The copious checkpoints are appreciated. +The OST is occasionally great. -I don't care for the level timer. -Didn't like fighting the "bat guy" boss more than once.
-The mine kart part is oof. -If you don't play on Normal you miss the last levels, problem is "Easy" is default. -This game really should have a fan translation by now. Ex's time to beat: 1 hour 35 minutes
Ex's rating: 8/10
I strongly recommend this game to Sarge.
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Post by Sarge on Dec 2, 2021 23:40:42 GMT -5
I never stuck with this game long enough to get to the boss battles. Very intriguing. I do have it downloaded - have had it on the PS Classic since I got it, actually. Definitely looks like I should give it more burn.
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Post by toei on Dec 3, 2021 8:31:53 GMT -5
Little Ralph impressed me too, but for some reason I can't play its genre (platformers that are all about jumping, as opposed to what some call "action-platformers", which I really like) very long, so I didn't finish it. The mine cart level is where I dropped it. You know, I don't think I've ever come across a mine cart level I liked, and they're the worst part of many, many games.
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Post by Ex on Dec 3, 2021 15:50:14 GMT -5
Yes Little Ralph prioritizes precise platforming, some of it is quite difficult too. The boss battles though, were pretty fun in how they replicate 2D VS fighting. It helps that the player character uses standard SF inputs to do the moves, specifically the shōtōkan movesets. But I can understand why most drop off the game, it is really tough. The outstanding production values kept me going though, especially the backgrounds. There's some really impressive pixel art in many of the backgrounds. Very pretty game for fans of oldschool 2D graphics.
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Post by Xeogred on Dec 4, 2021 0:11:29 GMT -5
The PSX God.
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Post by Xeogred on Dec 4, 2021 1:50:38 GMT -5
I need to pass out for the night... but unless you guys can refresh me on other good third person action/platformer blends, I think my list of the best would look like this:
1. Resident Evil's (2) 2. Metal Gear Solid 3. Tomb Raider 1/2
It's weird to compare TR to those in a lot of ways but for now it works to simplify things. I already joked about Fear Effect earlier. Another series I tried getting into just a few years back, were the Syphon Filter games. Hoooo man, I couldn't stomach those for long. And I recall liking them a lot as a kid. But some of this era does not hold up. I bet there's someone out there that hates the old Tomb Raider's and loves Syphon Filter though, so it's probably all subjective from this early experimental 3D era. But yeah. The TR controls feel tight and precise to me, I love how demanding they are. The games are chalk full of some trial and error, it takes awhile to just get around some simple environments, but it works really well for me once I got into it.
You wouldn't play these old TR games purely for the gunplay. But what's there for its "combat" is pretty fun to me and a nice little distraction amongst all the tomb raidin'. Lara automatically locks onto targets close by and you just fire away. With single d-pad styled controls it's tough dodging stuff, but you have a roll that can give you some i-frames sometimes, and then the backflip and side jumps, both of which Lara can keep firing if the enemy is still in her line of sight. She busts out some Matrix moves.
Guess in a funny way I'd say...
TR1: 90% platformer, 10% action TR2: 80% platformer, 20% action From what I've been reading, TR3 reels a back a bit to more pure platforming. Which is good. The enemy count in TR2 hasn't bothered me but I can see how it does for some fans, compared to the first game. There's definitely a lot more enemies in TR2.
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Post by Xeogred on Dec 4, 2021 22:30:35 GMT -5
The Tibet snow levels were really good. Fun stuff. That's 14/18 levels down, so I'm back to the Great Wall of China and in the home stretch it seems.
Level 15: Temple of Xian Level 16: Floating Islands Level 17: Dragon's Lair Level 18: Home Sweet Home
These levels sound epic.
Here's some glorious PSX CGI action for you all.
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Post by Xeogred on Dec 4, 2021 23:51:05 GMT -5
Oh wow, haven't seen an update from this channel in a bit.
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Post by Ex on Dec 6, 2021 10:41:12 GMT -5
Those shots from TR2 are impressive, given its age. It looks like the original TR games were heavily focused on exploration and I'm assuming switch/level puzzles. Do the PS1 TR games have music going on while you play, or is it mostly just ambient sound?
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