Cool and Unusual Game reviews (my YouTube series)

[louisg]

Hey, I've started doing game reviews. So far, I've done:

Realm of Impossibility for C64:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh4QieNyAb8

Blue Lightning for Lynx (probably my best one so far):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6vrm8AF7QY

A Let's Play of Toki for Lynx with special guest deets:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX71_nwEUAw

And my first one, RoadBlasters for Lynx:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlWhkDTZlc0

[louisg]

BTW if anyone has any suggestions on style or delivery, or aspects of the game you wish I'd talk about, lemme know!

[stryc9]

I've only had time to watch the Road Blasters one so far, but excellent job. I will get to the others later. Good to see the games running on actual hardware rather than video capture from an emulator.

Pity the Lynx version misses the stage clear ditties, but apart from that it looks awesome.

[louisg]

I've only had time to watch the Road Blasters one so far, but excellent job. I will get to the others later. Good to see the games running on actual hardware rather than video capture from an emulator.

Pity the Lynx version misses the stage clear ditties, but apart from that it looks awesome.

Thanks! I'm trying to capture from real hardware when possible. Though, for the console ones I've been using emulator since I don't have a video capture device aside from my cell phone. I think also for the next portable review I'll cut between showing the handheld and emulator footage just because it's fairly hard to see, especially after YouTube munches the video encoding.

[louisg]

I just posted a new one. This time, it's Uridium! http://youtu.be/ySkM6krco9M

[Nana]

Just watched the Realm of Impossibility review -- this game looks really cool, I had no idea it existed. I'll definitely be following your review series. More obscure stuff is great.

I noticed however that the review was strangely devoid of actual opinions. It's very informative, but I got very little of what you actually like or don't like about the game. Maybe a bit more energy would be good too ;D

[Austin]

I agree with the above comment, they seem less like reviews and more just like general a synopsis of the game you are covering at the time.. which is perfectly fine. I don't necessarily watch videos for a strict opinion, as I can usually tell whether I will like a game or not by seeing it in action. However, some things can't be experienced by simply watching, so if a game is unresponsive or if the hit-detection is a little wonky (but you can't tell in the video), it's great to mention that.

I like the execution more in the C64 video since it's not using shaky-cam footage.

Either way, it's a great start, so keep up the good work!

[louisg]

Thanks for the critique! I think the Uridium one is a little more towards that direction-- I'm pretty happy with it. So far I've been reviewing games I like a lot, but I've been trying to criticize them all the same. My goal isn't to offer my opinion as much as give people as much info as they need to decide if they want to pick it up or not. What I want to convey is: How did the game fit into the time in which it was released, and why someone may or may not want to check it out in 2014. I definitely try to mention whenever something behaves oddly in a game (e.g., getting stuck on walls in Realm, some of the choppiness affecting the gameplay in Blue Lightning)

I should probably make a list of points I want to cover beforehand and then try to work as much of that in as possible. But, I also want to strike a balance of doing that and also explain what's going on. Decisions, decisions

[Austin]

You'll get it eventually, it all comes with practice and you will soon find your comfort zone and style.

[louisg]

I just added a new one: Granada vs. Metal Stoker! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYhqeUJzOrs

[stryc9]

Nice comparison of those games. Your breakdown leaves no doubt as to what the player is getting into with these titles, you were pleasant to listen to and I liked the montage. I played Metal Stoker years ago and was pretty impressed with the little I saw.

Looking forward to more.

[louisg]

Nice comparison of those games. Your breakdown leaves no doubt as to what the player is getting into with these titles, you were pleasant to listen to and I liked the montage. I played Metal Stoker years ago and was pretty impressed with the little I saw.

Looking forward to more.

Thanks! I was very happy with that one.

[louisg]

Xenophobe review is up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ropmS62a1I

[D]

Jezus Christ, what the hell was that? Thanks for the reviews. Never had a Lynx so I'm curious about the games. Review Raiden next please.....
What is considered by the internet, the best Lynx game?

[louisg]

The BallBlazer 7800 vs. C64 review is up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8P8BVOQqLs

I'm trying a new technique-- recording off a CRT! Lemme know what you think. In the future, I may cut between that and emulated shots.

Jezus Christ, what the hell was that? Thanks for the reviews. Never had a Lynx so I'm curious about the games. Review Raiden next please.....
What is considered by the internet, the best Lynx game?

Ahh, I don't have Raiden. It was a posthumous release for the Lynx, and I think the only version released still says "CES Test Version" on the title screen. Opinions vary a lot on what the best Lynx game is-- there's a shmups.com thread on it though! If you're looking for platformers and shmups, you will be very disappointed (though Drum liked Gates of Zendocon for a reason I *still* don't get!). There's a few but they're not good. But, if you're looking for chase-view shooters, semi-sims, good Atari/Midway arcade ports with all the elements from the arcade versions, and other oddball styles, it's a great portable IMO. I'll be reviewing more Lynx stuff in the future; I recently picked up Warbirds, which is excellent. It's a biplane dogfighting game, and it retains most of the complexity from computer sims of the time yet is several times more fluid.

I also want to pick up Zaku, a recent home-brew shmup in the style of Air Zonk. That actually looks pretty good.

[louisg]

The Vice Squad review is up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dyi1-2RjCs

[louisg]

I just uploaded a review of The Chaos Engine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXEMMX-CyLo .. it's the first one I've done with my new video cap device!

[D]

The Vice Squad review is up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dyi1-2RjCs

That ost is just terrific. Game seems pretty cool as well. Thanks for the review. If anybody know where to hear or dl the ost, give me a shot.

[soprano1]

Nice reviews louisg, please keep at it!

[louisg]

New review up! The Great American Cross-Country Road Race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnZmzwkhc4A

I also tossed out a review of Souky a few days ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtPzIcJ ... 46OFRiyOoD

(and already aware I mangled the pronunciation of Soukyugurentai )

Nice reviews louisg, please keep at it!

Thanks!

The Vice Squad review is up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dyi1-2RjCs

That ost is just terrific. Game seems pretty cool as well. Thanks for the review. If anybody know where to hear or dl the ost, give me a shot.

The OST I think is in the High Voltage Sid Collection. Yeah, the music is so good in it Maybe I should record it off my real hardware. But, I think I can only get it playing back at NTSC speed, though maybe my 1541-Ultimate's SID player is smart enough to adapt it.

[louisg]

Here's a few new reviews: Frog Master, StarMaster, and Gods

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhU2wAE ... 46OFRiyOoD

[louisg]

I recently did a couple more:

Red Dog (Dreamcast): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LpwjBDCOb8
Airborne Ranger (C64): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhYVQZrzdto

[louisg]

Here's some more you guys might like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNAM0V4 ... 46OFRiyOoD

It goes to the playlist. New reviews since my last post are Firehawk: Thexder 2, Zenji, H.E.R.O. (C64 and 2600 compared), Under Defeat, Operation Wolf, and Rescue on Fractalus for Atari 800.