Lost Dragon Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 Defender was bad, as a side scroller, if you ever suffered into the GBA release. Holy hell that one is awful. The 3D one, and in particular the Gamecube one had the most effort put into it of the three internally. Look I have a stake in the game as it is anyway, but believe me a lot of effort went into that version including late to the game corrections to make sure it controlled well, if you selected the right scheme (unfortunately.) You just can't go into Defender wanting the 80s cracked out hard as balls arcade game, but if you go into it as a defender of the solar system/earth type scenario to destroy the alien enemy and save what you can of humanity it's a pretty fun game with a lot of stages with a decent challenge curve that increases with it. It doesn't suffer like many later in the years updates with cheap garbage and short cuts to make faux challenge or annoying ass moments to make it last longer. Not going to dig into it or go into 15 year old history, but I'll leave it at this -- my name is in the manual, though doesn't credit me entirely properly. The last of 5 (credited) games from my couple years at Midway before I left CA for KY the first time. Ok..here's my point of view as a consumer.. I bought during the PS2/Xbox/GC era alone..modern updates on: Spy hunter Defender Final Fight Narc P.O.P Never tried Gauntlet.. Not 1 of them captured the magic as it were of the 2D originals and i doubt they will be regarded as classics in years to come. On PS3..i tried updates to Strider..Bionic Commando..1942..Commando Golden Axe etc. So..Over the years a lot of developer have tried really hard..With mixed results..to take classic 2D games kicking and screaming into the modern age.. I've yet to find anything bar Afterburner Climax perhaps..that grabs me in the manner the originals did. I'm an aged and cynical gamer..so please don't take my comments about your Defender update too personally 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 Here are mine: Gridrunner Super Ox Wars Llamatron 2112 Minotaur Rescue on iOS really did it for me, they were great. You can play Gridrunner and Super Ox Wars for free on Android, they run fine on just about anything. Also 5 a Day (which is like Time Pilot), Caverns of Minos (which is like Caverns of Mars), and GoatUp (which is weird, but like Tower Toppler/Nebulus, I guess). and of course Tempest 2000, Defender 2000 on Jaguar Virtual Light Machine on Jaguar CD Tempest 3000 on Nuon Space Giraffe on XB360 (or the optionally less trippy Windows version, still on Steam) he also did the "Neon" effects on Xbox 360 when you play an audio CD, and the psychedelic backgrounds for the XB360 port of Space Invaders Extreme. Betcha didn't know the Neon visualizer was this neat: online manual 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost Dragon Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 I would of loved Unity on Game Cube to of been finished.. His Panther test routines to of progressed enough for the beginninext of a game..so we could see what he had in mind.. And how he would of approached Major Havoc on the Jaguar. .having never played the coin op..prior to Atari letting him try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 I don't take it personal you clearly have a dislike of rehashed old arcade games brought into the 3D era. I don't really recall a 3D Final Fight or NARC, but the others I'm aware of or messed with. Spy Hunter has some of the spirit but it is so much its own game I get anyone disliking it loving the original, same feeling there too with Prince of Persia. Sands of Time was pretty alright but the rest after just got worse and worse by magnitudes and no fun like the old one. Gauntlet Legends though, that one was handled with class and really did still feel like the old game other than the fact it wasn't randomly generated stages and you had areas with a pretty thankfully fun boss fight. The game is solid alone or with up to all 4 going but to me it stands out as a 3D resurrection that didn't stink. Defender used the themes of the original but did not try and capture the feel of the old entirely other than the basic mechanics of ship flight, rescuing humans, or destroying them once they were harvested into nastier manti(aliens.) 1942/43 that one when it turned into 1945 Strikers Plus by Psikyo on the NeoGeo though, that one was(is) amazing. I think that one did a good job. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost Dragon Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 Time changes what i like in games..there were a lot of years between me playing Prince Of P. on ST then Game Gear and the Ubisoft Game. Spy Hunter i did enjoy on PS2 as a stand alone title..but i poured far more hours into the original on A8 and C64.. It's a strange 1 with myself and games..i was loving Rayman Origins on PS3..had to abandon it due to issues in life..returned to it when things calmed down..couldn't stomach it at all... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 I've got that with some games. I can't take an RPG anymore with random battles, yet there are a select few I'm just used to enough I will put up with it. Rayman I felt the same about with the WiiU release, but even with the $5 GOG pickup I can not really stomach putting up with how it is designed again so it sits. Certain games I used to love franchise wise or individually are garbage to me now I can't stand much or get bored of in minutes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Havoc 2049 Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Did any footage of Tempest 4000 come out of Gamescom? I searched YouTube, but didn't see anything. I know hought Minter posted that he was going to Gamescom. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctorclu Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Yes, true. There were 3 modes, though ... Classic was big, chunky, and FAST Plus was trippy, also FAST 2000 was ugly, but LOUD and fast. Agreed about "rendered sprites." They were neat when new, but we've moved on and are no longer impressed by shiny things like that. Flat UI is in now, much more Atari-like! While I found most of the modes too busy (a trademark of Jeff) I really enjoyed Classic mode. It actually is more controllable than the real Defender. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost Dragon Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 I've got that with some games. I can't take an RPG anymore with random battles, yet there are a select few I'm just used to enough I will put up with it. Rayman I felt the same about with the WiiU release, but even with the $5 GOG pickup I can not really stomach putting up with how it is designed again so it sits. Certain games I used to love franchise wise or individually are garbage to me now I can't stand much or get bored of in minutes. I'm ashamed to say i smashed up a Dreamcast after random battles in Skies Of Arcadia. Only time i have ever rage quit so bad at a game..was in a bad place, mentally when playing..this was many years ago..and why i took it out on the hardware..i honestly don't know..but yes..it reduced me to this. :$ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Wow execution style on a Dreamcast, harsh. The GC version isn't as bad that way, they dialed back the random battle generator by a notable bit, just not sure on the percentage. I just remember it driving me less nuts/angry back when it first came out. The DC game I never finished as i got so fed up with it around the big wall/south american looking area as I'd fly 2-3sec at most, then have a 15sec unskippable animation into a carbon copy fight that I had had enough putting up with it once I landed and could do town/dungeon. When the dungeon was evenly if not more hyperactive in being annoying I put it away for years until I sold that system. I'd say the GC one may still be a little bit aggressive compared to maybe Final Fantasy of the time, but it wasn't infuriating at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost Dragon Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Yep..not proud of it. Did buy another DC and picked up game later on G.C, but still never finished it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 While I found most of the modes too busy (a trademark of Jeff) I really enjoyed Classic mode. It actually is more controllable than the real Defender. Me too. I wouldn't mind more "remasters" like that. Some of the Xbox Live Arcade ports had "enhanced" graphics, sometimes for the better, though usually not as nice as Defender Classic for Jaguar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Yep..not proud of it. Did buy another DC and picked up game later on G.C, but still never finished it. I've never put a system to death but controllers, I've had victims. I've never finished it on GC either, job being usually 70+hours a week got in the way of that but I did get through most the airship commanders. It's a solid game, but it is a bit long for its own good. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost Dragon Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 Seen a friend of mine bite a PS2 controller in a fit of games rage..another went apeshit on MOH:Rising Sun disc with a Stanley Knife.. Guess we hate it when the machine beats us..:-)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Clae Posted August 24, 2017 Share Posted August 24, 2017 I played a lot of 2000 and Space Giraffe, but not 3000. I should give 4000 a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory DG Posted August 24, 2017 Author Share Posted August 24, 2017 TxK is fantastic! But it's only on my PS TV, which is not my main game system thesedays. Will be nice to have T4000 on my PS4! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Loguidice Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 I had an opportunity to try a build of Tempest 4000 a few weeks back. It's very promising, although from the build I played, there won't be any real surprises in regards to the formula. It's exactly what one would expect, a linearly evolved Tempest 2K/3K that goes a little easier on the psychedelics. I did have a little trouble playing with the analog stick, but then I'm kind of whiny about that stuff in general for this type of game and certainly didn't dedicate myself to getting better with using it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctorclu Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Tempest was always meant to be a rotary game. Period. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HammR25 Posted September 16, 2017 Share Posted September 16, 2017 Searched Youtube and found this: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess Ragan Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 It's just like TxK, but with the Tempest 2000 soundtrack. Color me unimpressed. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iwantgames:) Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 If it hits PSVR I'll likely grab it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 If it hits PSVR I'll likely grab it I'll bet it looks good in there. I understand that Polybius is amazing in PSVR. I have it in regular 2D and I'm like, "is that it?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iwantgames:) Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 I'll bet it looks good in there. I understand that Polybius is amazing in PSVR. I have it in regular 2D and I'm like, "is that it?" Yea I have Polybius on PSVR and it's areally fun and crazy trip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative1 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Tempest was always meant to be a rotary game. Period. yes, that's true. but how many people have access to them. in the meantime, people have gotten used to controllers with sticks. i have a rotary controller that i can use on the pc/xbox 360/ps2/ps3 so i do alright. will definitely check out t4000, and by the way who cares if they use an old soundtrack. it still is awesome. later -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inky Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Tempest 4000 should be an arcade game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
AtariAge on Instagram
Watch us on YouTube
Chat on Discord
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.