I've been playing many old games recently. I've lived with the principle "things were better" for pretty long now, but in all honesty I must say that many many titles have come to dissapoint me... especially some that I held so high in regard back in the days.
STINKERS:
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Chaos Engine
- I loved this game. Played it through over and over again. Today? Well, I still like the principles of the game... but what about the lousy scrolling? Scrolling have become one of the most important parts in games... comparing like True Crime on the Gamecube (60hz, as smooth as ever) with True Crime on the X-Box (it stutters all the way through... not even the cinemas are able to play smoothly... feels rushed) is like comparing ABC80 with an AMiGA 4000.
Speedball II
- Loved it then. Can't play it now. It's everything but smooth. The scrolling is horrible.
Moonstone
- Thought it was excellent then. Now it really doesn't hold up to anything. Slow. Jerky control. Jerky graphics. What was the big deal?
Pinball Dreams, Fantasies & Illusions
- Well. They are smooth. And the graphics are nice. But they have aged. Oh man, have they aged! In comparation to Slam Tilt they seem so trivial. There is so little to do on the tables. Slam Tilt still works just fine, and I consider it still by today being the best 2D Pinball simulator ever.
Lotus I, II & III
- What made them impress me? I can't stand them. The graphics are not nice and the gameplay is everything but smooth. Compared to Jaguar XJ220 they seem... lightweight? Jaguar XJ220 still holds up well, and the arcade feeling is instant. Love it. Hate them.
Dune II
- Uhm. It's unplayable. Too few levels. Too hard. Too tedious interface (controlling one unit at a time when there is like 20 units attacking?). This was a major disappointment.
Microcosm
- Unplayable graphic demo. Nice concept. Horrible gameplay. Back in the days it impressed me. But the impression wasn't lasting.
ROCKERS:
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Besides the previously mentioned Slam Tilt & Jaguar XJ220...
Super Stardust
- Is this the best asteriods clone ever? The graphics are insanely nice looking and the tunnel sequences STILL seem to impress people. Not to mention the gameplay with so many different enemies, levels and nice challenge.
Turrican II
- The perfect platformer. Although I play it through in about an hour with 30+ lives left, I can't help loving it. The graphics. THE SOUNDTRACK. The leveldesigns. The control. The everything. Man, is this a classic!
Dune
- Never played anything like this since. Real time strategy combined with adventure and almost some RPG-alike elements. Wonderful soundtrack. Nice graphics and overall superb interface to play around with.
Eye of the Beholder I & II
- They are what they are and they are good. Never seizes to intrigue me.
Monkey Island I & II
Indiana Jones & The Fate Of Atlantis
Napalm
Myst
Hero Quest I & II
Brian The Lion
Megaball 4
Cannon Fodder I & II
Civilization
Benefactor
Sim City, Sim City 2000, Sim Ant & Sim Earth
Populous I & II
Bobs Bad Day (it rocks, but no one seems to remember it?)
...and many many more.
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