Every Thursday Defunct Games wants to take a moment and reflect on all of the classic games that were given new life. Thanks to video game compilations, Nintendo's Virtual Console, the Xbox Live Arcade and even the PlayStation 3, fans of retro games are able to find all sorts of crazy old games. But what games are good? How well have these games held up? Which ones should you spend your money on? In This Week In Defunct Games we plan on answering those questions in both written and audio podcast form. So without further ado I give you the podcast version of This Week In Defunct Games, followed by our full guide to the best (and worst) classic games of the week.
NOTE: Hey gang, Cyril here. This is the first article I've written since nearly burning my hand off. In case you are wondering I am doing a lot better and have regained some movement in my fingers/hand. I am still not 100%, but that isn't going to keep me from writing thus lengthy installment of This Week In Defunct Games. Unfortunately I have not been able to do a podcast to support this write-up, expect a lengthy one next week if all goes well. Thank you for your understanding and I appreciate all of the get well emails that have come in. I'm hoping to get this site back to its normal routine as early as next Monday. I'll keep you posted. But until then enjoy another episode of This Week In Defunct Games ...
Final Fight (Virtual Console)
What Is It?
Final Fight is one of Capcom's best two-player arcade games, a brawler full of great graphics, cool enemies and fun locales. Of all the classic sprite-drivel brawlers of that era it' Final Fight I come back to more than anything. Unfortunately this is not the arcade version of Final Fight; this is the horrible Super NES port that you should do everything in your power to avoid. It's not an excuse, but it's important to keep in mind that this version of Final Fight was a launch title for the Super NES, so it's better if you set your sights low ... very, very low. If the arcade game was so much fun, then why is it difficult to recommend this Super NES port? For a lot of reasons, most of which has to do more with what the game isn't than what it is. For starters this Super NES game does not offer a two-player mode, one of the best reasons to play this game in the arcade. It's also missing some levels, making this Super NES game even shorter. And then there's the issue of the missing character, Guy. In the arcade Final Fight offered three characters to choose from (Haggar, Cody and Guy), but for some strange reason Guy was not invited to this console port. Later Capcom would re-release the game as Final Fight Guy and include this character, but that is not the version currently available for the Super NES. These three problems may not sound that bad, but in truth they go a long way to damage the integrity of Final Fight for the Super NES.
Does It Still Hold Up?
Some like to complain that the repetitive game play of Final Fight (and all games of the genre) don't hold up in our new world full of RPG elements, deep game play and online multiplayer. To an extent these people have a point, Final Fight is nothing more than just you punching and jumping, something that any monkey can do in its sleep. But I don't care, I still have a lot of fun going back and playing Final Fight, Captain Commando, Double Dragon and the rest of the brawlers from this era. A big part of the excitement comes from playing these beat-em-ups with a friend, but seeing as this version of Final Fight can't support two players you'll be left mashing buttons all by yourself. Personally I'll still go back to Final Fight in a classic Capcom arcade collection, but this Super NES port simply does not hold up.
Is It Worth The Money?
Make no mistake about it; Final Fight is well worth $8 ... just not this version of Final Fight! Unless you don't mind getting a slimmed down version that doesn't offer most of the best elements from the original game then you should probably just wait for an Xbox Live Arcade version or maybe pick it up in the Capcom Classics Collection on the PSP and PlayStation 2. Had they gone back and merged this version with Final Fight Guy then the $8 asking price might have been slightly more understandable, but as it is there's almost no reason to buy this limited port.
Mighty Bomb Jack (Virtual Console)
What Is It?
Originally an arcade game, Mighty Bomb Jack is an NES port that features a small character running around picking up bombs, opening locked treasure chests and dodging annoying enemies ... and that's it. That's all you do in the entire game, you just run around and jump REAL high. As an arcade game Mighty Bomb Jack was an exciting game, as an NES port it's the type of game that can cure insomnia. I had never actually played this version of the game before and was amazed at how bland and boring the whole experience was. It would be one thing if the levels changed, but as you progress through the game you will be forced to do exactly the same thing over and over again. Mighty Bomb Jack is an interesting game, but don't confuse "interesting" with being "good".
Does It Still Hold Up?
With all the amazing games not yet released on the Virtual Console it seems almost offensive to give us crap like Mighty Bomb Jack. This is a game that wasn't good back in the day and has only gotten worse with age. A majority of the game play revolves around dodging unfair enemies that will kill you with only one hit, which definitely feels unfair at times. You can jump real high, but that's more of a liability than anything. On top of that the graphics are terrible (even for an NES game) and the levels don't change. The game just doesn't hold up, not even a little bit.
Is It Worth The Money?
It's a shame I can't just answer this question with a simple no. If Mighty Bomb Jack has good ideas then they are absent in this NES port, this is a shallow experience that borders on painful at times. With so many other (better) NES games on the Virtual Console there's really no reason to spend your money on this game ... even if it is only $5.
Ordyne (Virtual Console)
What Is It?
When it comes to the Virtual Console there are so many amazing shooters already available (from Gradius III to R-Type to Super Star Soldier), so why would anybody want to spend their time with Ordyne? The answer is that they wouldn't, because Ordyne is a slow paced action game that doesn't offer anything new or interesting. Take everything that you know about shooters (fast action, amazing power-ups, creative levels, etc.) and throw that out the window, Ordyne is here to offer a mundane experience that nobody will enjoy. For example in this game you are forced to shoot at the same enemies level after level, the weapons all suck, and it moves at a snail's pace. And we haven't even talked about the crummy graphics and sound effects. Playing Ordyne it's hard to believe that this is the same system that handled Lords of Thunder.
Does It Still Hold Up?
For the most part I have been extremely nice to 2D shooters on the Virtual Console, when it comes to games like Gradius and R-Type I feel that they still hold up and are as much fun now as they were twenty years ago (maybe even more fun now that there isn't a new one every month). But Ordyne does not hold up, it's an incredibly clumsy shooter that does just about everything wrong. I have no idea why Nintendo (or whoever is in charge of the Virtual Consoles) would not put up Gates of Thunder or one of the better TurboGrafx-16 shooters.
Is It Worth The Money?
The only excuse you have for buying Ordyne is if you have already picked up every other shooter-em-up on the Virtual Console. If you do decide to pick this up over the vastly superior collection of 2D shooters then you may be beyond help. This is yet more ammunition for the people that feel that the TurboGrafx-16 is an inferior console.
Double Dragon (Xbox Live Arcade)
What Is It?
Forget about Final Fight, it's Double Dragon that started the beat-em-up genre. This is a port/remake of one of the greatest arcade games of all time, the game that proved that beating hundreds of gang members up can be a whole lot of fun (especially with a friend). In Double Dragon you take control of one of two mean dudes, Billy or Jimmy, and you mop up the streets with every enemy that gets between you and your girlfriend. And it doesn't stop there, Double Dragon even teaches you the moral that sometimes your best friend can be your worst enemy (see: the end of the two player game). This version of Double Dragon includes the full length arcade game, as well as a mode that allows you to view the game with all new graphics (that make it look like a weird flash game). You can also play the game online with a friend and hunt down achievement points. Outside of the graphics and sound Double Dragon hasn't changed much, but with its classic characters and moves there's really no reason to mess up a good thing.
Does It Still Hold Up?
Like Final Fight on the Virtual Console, Double Dragon suffers from a limited amount of moves. The game play here is understandably archaic, but at least it's still a lot of fun to play ... especially online with a friend. Not everybody is going to fall in love with the controversial face lift, but nobody is forcing you to look at the new graphics. The game play is the same and that's what really matters.
Is It Worth The Money?
At five dollars it's hard to pass on Double Dragon, especially if you have fond memories of the game in the arcade. While the new graphics and achievement points are nice, the real reason to own this game is to play it online with friends ... which has a funny way of improving all games. On a side note: While a lot of people seem to hate the new graphics I actually kind of like them. There are a lot of subtle improvements that made me smile, especially when it comes to the backgrounds and enemies. Still, if you find yourself unimpressed with the new graphics you can go back to the classic look, which is a must for remade arcade classics.
Rampart (PlayStation 3)
What Is It?
In an era of amazing Atari arcade games, Rampart is one of the best. Rampart tells the story of ... well, actually, I'm not sure Rampart actually tells a story. But I am sure that Rampart is full of cannonballs and castles that need to be repaired. Regardless of whether you're playing it solo or with a bunch of friends, Rampart centers on you choosing a castle and building a wall to keep the enemies/cannonballs out. After you've built your base up (using, of all things, Tetris pieces), Rampart turns into an action game where you fire at your opposing castles (or enemy ships in the single player mode) and try to make it hard for them to rebuild. Once the time is up you have to fix your walls and try to secure other castles. You continue down this path until the other players lose, which gives you a victory and some bragging rights. This PlayStation 3 port offers everything you loved about the arcade game with the addition of online support and leader boards.
Does It Still Hold Up?
Rampart is one of those classic games that is fun no matter what system it's on. While the single player levels have always been mediocre, the fun of this game comes from the intense three person battles found in the multiplayer mode. And now that the game is online it's even easier to find people to play it with (one of the biggest problems with Rampart). It's amazing how well the game holds up, the game play and graphics are simple but the theme is deep and exciting. Rampart has always been a great game and it remains a great game on the PlayStation 3.
Is It Worth The Money?
Like Double Dragon for the Xbox Live Arcade, Rampart feels like a steal at $5. The game doesn't have amazing new 3D graphics or anything, but the online mode makes this a must buy. Regardless of whether you're a fan of the original arcade game or seeing it for the first time, Rampart is an amazing game that is worth all five of your dollars.
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