Right, before I start on this one, I wanna say that, for me, the original Gameboy remains the ultimate portable gaming system. There is something which just feels right about the basic B&W graphics, which sort of reduce the games to the basics, which is when you can really tell whether a game is good or not. Now, about Kid Dracula, which is a sort of parody of the Castlevania series: this is pretty much your basic platformer, but done right.
I suppose the thing which makes the game stand out is that you get different attack-powers as you progress, and the game puts you in situations where you have to use every one of them. Also, despite the basic Gameboy graphics, the game succeeds in giving each world a distinct and charming look. Finally, there is variety to be found here. You don't just shoot and run, each level has something different to offer than the previous one. So there you have it, this is pretty good game, which you should try if you're into the Gameboy, or retro games in general.7/10
Omg, second mini review in a row. How can this be. Ahem. Anyway, Microprose Soccer is generally considered one of the two best football games on the C64 (the other one being Emlyn Hughes). For the record, I consider Emlyn a superior game, but overall my favorite C64 footie game is Liverpool, which came out very late in 1993, so not a lot of people are familiar with it. Now, I hadn't played Microprose Soccer in a while, so it was interesting coming across it once again. I used to like it a lot back in the day, but then I sort of recognized all the flaws it has.
The thing is, Microprose Soccer has a very rigid structure. It doesn't have the chance factor which all the great football games have, like Sensible Soccer. Tackling and scoring in Microprose Soccer are very formulaic affairs, very robotic I should say. Nevertheless, as you progress against superior teams, the game works this disadvantage to it's favor, by getting really hectic, and you rushing to implement even what they are very formulaic tactics. So, I'll give it a positive score, because you can have fun playing this, just as long as you don't play it for too long.7/10
Ok, so I hadn't written anything in ages, and I still don't feel like writing a long piece, taking too many snapshots and so on, but I thought I'd write a quickie instead. I was looking for games to play, so I came across DoReMi Fantasy in one of Racket Boy's features. It's your typical platformer, whereas you embark on a quest, and you jump and run (and shoot) on opponents. So here's the thing, Do-Re-Mi Fantasy is a little masterpiece, perhaps even better than Super Mario World.
Why is that? One thing: the lovely graphics, comprising the equally lovely worlds, which are also enhanced by the lovely music. Oh, the gameplay is excellent too. It plays like a cross between Super Mario World and The Addams Family, with a bit of Robocod thrown in for good measure. It's also easier than any of these three games, which in my book makes it better (I really don't like excessively difficult games). But like I said, the graphics, wow, they really make you "live" the whole experience. Check it out and you'll know what I mean.9/10
