UFO 50 - 8bit Collection from Derek Yu and Friends

[samspot]

UFO 50 came out today! It's Derek Yu's latest project - creator of Spelunky. It's 50 games and they are described as complete games, not microgames or minigames. Many of these are arcade games or shmups. I trust Derek's designs. His book on Spelunky calls out his arcade influences. He even talks about 1cc and regards adding credits as too "pay-to-win". In Spelunky, all clears are 1CC.

Let me know if you are interested in a Game of the Week or leaderboards. There's an in-game leaderboard per game, but it's local only. I'm interested to see which games you enjoy most. So far I've only played Caramel Caramel, a hori with a camera combo system instead of bombs. It looks like it could be fun to play for score.

Some related links:

Spelunky system11 thread - viewtopic.php?t=23956
X release announcement - https://x.com/mossmouth/status/1835833968127783190
Steam Store Page (Only announced for Steam as of this writing) - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1147860/UFO_50/

[m.sniffles.esq]

regards adding credits as too "pay-to-win"

You may want to edit that part, there's someone on this board that really, really, really doesn't like it when that's said (even though it's true), and regards continues as essential in 'developing strategy' (I'm guessing a strategy other than 'put money in until you win game' obviously). They may not open this thread, but in the event they do--well--I did my part.

Anyway, the game(s) itself is okay. It's a fetishistic homage to those "ACTION PACK! 80 IN 1!" knock-off nintendo carts*. If you hold nostalgia for those, this will probably be straight up your alley. I don't, so I'm not the target audience. But it's a bunch of reasonably well done off-brand versions of popular old games (much like the carts that inspired the collection)

*sorta/kinda... the press copy gives a fake history of an 'UFO Soft' developer, and acts like what you're playing is a collection of this forgotten company's releases. It's... very odd. Like they were a bit unsure exactly what they were being fetishistic about (which is pretty un-fetishistic if you think about it) so decided to ultimately ride in both lanes simultaneously.

Or the PR company didn't quite 'get it'

[samspot]

regards adding credits as too "pay-to-win"

I don't feel strongly about this one way or the other, but it's worth noting since none of the games I've tried allow continues. If anyone wants to yell at Derek they are welcome, but I don't think he reads this forum.

My take is the developers were looking for a way to make low-budget, 1-2 person games and needed a way to make them worth buying. What you refer to as a fetish is just a unifying theme for the package, and a way to make the super secret stuff have some rhyme and reason.

IMO anyone who enjoys trying out random Hamster's Arcade Archives releases is likely to find some fun here. But I've only played 3 hours at this point so its too early to give any kind of verdict. I'm avoiding mainstream reviews for now. I already beat Caramel Caramel, but the game let me know there is a TLB to take down. I wonder if I'll be able to figure that out on my own.

[m.sniffles.esq]

My take is the developers were looking for a way to make low-budget, 1-2 person games and needed a way to make them worth buying. What you refer to as a fetish is just a unifying theme for the package, and a way to make the super secret stuff have some rhyme and reason.

My actual impression is that it seems like something that started as a half-goof, and snowballed into something more grandiose. Honestly, if that's indeed the case, I think that would have been the best way of presenting it. The whole 'fictional knock-off company' thing is just kind of muddled and strange.

[FunktionJCB]

I tried 10 of the 50 included games, and they were all very enjoyable, and well worth checking out.

Pingolf, a straightforward game that mixes golf with pinball obstacles, is particularly addictive, and an early favourite.
As another example, Fist Hell, a beat'em up I tried, has you fighting the undead, and the gameplay is a bit like the Kunio-Kun games, in terms of fighting. It features some neat touches, like killed zombies leaving limbs or heads behind, that you can use as projectiles/weapons.
Plus, I tried some strategy games, some action games, and even a quirky dodge-ball game with special moves, and all were very enjoyable. Of the 10 games I tried, at least 8 of them are games I would buy if they were released stand-alone.

For those that are under the impression that this is a WarioWare-like collection of micro games, or that this is some sort of ironic collection of intentionally crappy games, this really isn't it.
All the games I tried had familiar gameplay, but also some creative touches that clearly show that a lot of care was placed into these.
And I haven't even touched the multi-hour games, like a very cool looking horror/adventure game in the style of The Uninvited, or Déjà Vu.

This collection was announced, if I'm not mistaken, 7 years ago, so it represents the work of 6 or 7 developers over a decent period of time, and not something done quickly on a weekend gamejam.
Also, a word about the music included, since the games have some solid chiptune tracks, and each game has a good amount of music. Considering all the music on these games was done by a single composer, I can't help but feel sorry for the amount of work the poor guy had to do for all these games.

One final note, for those that care about easter eggs and secret finding: 50 games isn't all there is to it.
This collection seems to have a very significant amount of hidden stuff, and people are finding all sorts of codes, that unlock prototypes, and even some minor bonus games. And, there appears to be some sort of progression for these secrets, with one leading to another, which will probably culminate in a bonus game or something like that.

I'm impressed they managed to put all this stuff in less than 400MB.

[Some-Mist]

I've played a significant amount of downwell and spelunky 1/2 so this was on my wishlist for a few years, and I just got around to it yesterday (I think it released a few days ago but I didn't get the email from steam until yesterday morning?)

I'm only 3 games in so far, but I've spent a couple hours between those 3 and have been finding the overall experience enjoyable. it's a nice change of pace from booting up some aca hamster titles nightly.

[Marc]

I'll be all over it on payday. Some great talent involved.

[samspot]

I've been playing more of the horizontal shmup, Caramel Caramel and wondering if I can figure out the TLB requirements. (If you know from looking it up, please don't spoil me). If anyone else is playing it would be fun to theorycraft without just googling for the answers.

The first clear is not difficult at all, but the game zeroes out your score every death. So playing for score requires a no-miss run. I assume TLB is from no-miss, or perhaps taking hidden pictures. I will have tested both of these soon enough.

If only 5 out of 50 are this good, it will have been worth the sticker price.

I also spent some time with the first game, Barbuta. I was put off at first by the slow movement, but unraveling the map is surprisingly fun.

[FunktionJCB]

I also spent some time with the first game, Barbuta. I was put off at first by the slow movement, but unraveling the map is surprisingly fun.

Barbuta is the one game where they seem to have made it intentionally "clunky", since it's supposed to be the fake company's first game, in the early 80's, so it's slow, and doesn't explain you anything.
While some people are digging it, drawing maps and all, a lot of people decided to tackle this one first, since it's the first one in the chronological list (the default list in the game selection menu), and ended up hating it so much, some even refunded the collection because of it.

Since I already knew how it plays, and how it requires some effort and patience, I have been trying out games in random order, starting with genres I like.

[m.sniffles.esq]

Barbuta is the one game where they seem to have made it intentionally "clunky", since it's supposed to be the fake company's first game, in the early 80's, so it's slow, and doesn't explain you anything.

And this is what I meant by "fetishistic" (I didn't want to get too far into it, because I didn't want to seem like I was slagging on it. It's for a specific audience that I'm not a part of)

For those that are under the impression that this is a WarioWare-like collection of micro games, or that this is some sort of ironic collection of intentionally crappy games, this really isn't it.

And this is what I meant by it's whole 'thing' being muddled and strange. In the run up/release, I've found myself having to defend it from the multitude of "50 shitty games from a fake company, who fucking cares?" (which I believe is born from it's 'thing') with something more concrete than 'it's from blahblahblah and that means it's going to be amazing, because blahblahblah makes games that are amazing"

But saying "I've played it. and the games aren't intentionally crappy (except for the parts that are intentionally crappy for authenticity's sake)" isn't exactly a ringing endorsement, either...

[FunktionJCB]

But saying "I've played it. and the games aren't intentionally crappy (except for the parts that are intentionally crappy for authenticity's sake)" isn't exactly a ringing endorsement, either...

I'm sorry you are not enjoying the collection.
But that was not what I said.

Your opinion seems to be that this is a take on the old knock-off carts, which usually had crappy quality, and multiple times the same games (at best with minor variations, like different number of lives, ...), to pad the numbers.
Which kind of means the quality of the titles in UFO 50 is low, likely in some cases intentionally.

Personally, I don't agree. The idea here, I think, was to do what several "fake" compilations in the past already did, like the Game Center CX games for the DS (the first one released as Retro Game Challenge in the US), and what "mockumentaries" like Forgotten Silver did, which is to imagine someone unearthing the work of some forgotten company/artist, and re-releasing it for re-discovery.

Of course, this is just a fun framing device to justify having all these games, covering popular genres and gameplay archetypes of the era, in one place. But, unlike Game Center CX/Retro Game Challenge, which had a lot of in-game content to convey a fake story, with fake magazines and the sort, UFO 50 has nothing of the sort. You launch it, you have a menu showing 50 games, and you play them.
It's clear you are not fond of the concept of a "fake collection", and I respect that, but you can ignore the framing and "fetishistic" (as you called it) elements with ease, because they really aren't present in-game. The store page may have a description of a fake company, and all that, but that is nowhere in-game (except for the fake year of release you see when you press the info button on a game).

This is basically a collection of 50 games, with 8-bit aesthetics, for an affordable price tag, and personally I found each game I tried was genuinely enjoyable, and made with care. Not in an ironic way, but genuinely something enjoyable to play in 2024.

Getting back to my "clunky" comment about the very first game, which seems to have been misunderstood, I didn't imply that the game was intentionally bad. I meant to say, because it's supposedly the oldest one, it's inspired by early 80's gameplay, so it lacks some of the QOL features you would see in games done a few years later, when developers started getting more comfortable with the hardware. Plus, I saw that it was clearly a game that has quite a bit of trial and error, and I was looking for something more "pick up and play" to try first.
But even that game, Barbuta, appears to be enjoyed by many people, and I've already seen friends drawing maps to get through the game, like they used to do with certain older titles.

In a collection of 50 games, I'm sure some will be better than others, especially according to one's preferences. But again, I have to say all games I played so far (and I still have quite a few to go) were clearly made with care, are quite enjoyable, and most I would buy outside of this collection.

As for having to "defend it" from people thinking they are all shitty games, I'm sure one look at the launch trailer shows that it has quite the variety of genres, with something for everyone that enjoys retro gaming.
If they still think these are shitty games after seeing it, or gameplay footage, it's really their loss.
At the end of the day, it's 50 games, for $25 (less, with the launch discount). For the asking price, I'm sure not many people will regret their purchase.

[m.sniffles.esq]

Your opinion seems to be that this is a take on the old knock-off carts, which usually had crappy quality, and multiple times the same games (at best with minor variations, like different number of lives, ...), to pad the numbers.
Which kind of means the quality of the titles in UFO 50 is low, likely in some cases intentionally.

Actually my opinion is it's all very... muddled. Which I thought I made clear, but perhaps I hadn't.

As for the overall quality

it's a bunch of reasonably well done off-brand versions of popular old games

And at the point one begins quoting oneself, one has reached one' s logical conclusion

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Looks neat, like Action 52 but if it were made as a passion project by actually competent, proven developers. Cash is a bit tight for me so I'm not buying new games presently, but it definitely looks like some of the titles are fun. Is the multiplayer component local-only (probably supports Steam Remote Play)?

[FunktionJCB]

Is the multiplayer component local-only (probably supports Steam Remote Play)?

It's local-only.

It does support Steam Remote Play, and some friends tried it and said it worked great, so at least there's that option.

[Some-Mist]

the part that gets me giddy is seeing people having fun posting scores to the leaderboards since the scores are attainable and you get goodies for getting good scores. the majority of people outside of arcade enthusiasts don't play for score and that's even true of some people on here

[nogden]

I think it’s a great collection and a very interesting idea. I’ve played about 30 of the 50 games and there’s a handful of them that I think are worth 10 or more dollars by their self. But nearly every single game made me stop and think “wow that’s a really good idea.” Right now I’m just trying to get a taste of them all but there’s a couple I’m very much looking forward to going back to and high score chasing. Even a game like Avianos where they basically made a dinosaur themed 8-bit civilization game. Some real creativity here.

[FunktionJCB]

Tried 4 more games, and I continue to be surprised with the fun and creativity on display. Cool stuff.

-Mortol is an hilarious puzzle/platformer, where you have a limited number of lives, and you try to reach the end by using your 3 abilities, that all result in your death: the first has you fly in a straight line, Superman-style, sticking into the wall in front of you, so your corpse can be used as a platform; the second, you explode, taking along with you nearby enemies and bricks; and the third, you turn into stone, serving as a stepping platform, and destroying the spikes you land on. I'm really digging this one, and the catchy soundtrack is cool stuff.

-Attactics is an addictive medieval-themed strategy game, where you can only move your characters up/down/back. Each turn, they move one step forward automatically, and more characters spawn (sometimes special hero characters appear). The goal here is to line them into battle to destroy your enemies, and reach their castle. It works extremely well, and the pixel art is very good. Another highlight for me.

-Kick Club is a single screen action-platformer in the style of Bubble Bobble. But here, you control a kid with a football (who looks a bit like the character of Sport Billy from the old Filmation cartoons), and you kick and head the ball into destroying your enemies, and collecting the various items to rank up your score. It's a familiar formula, but it's another really fun game.

-Ninpek is an auto-scroller action platformer, where you control a ninja, jumping and shooting shurikens at your enemies. When you die, you return as a spirit with a powerful projectile attack, until you get revived as the ninja again. This one, like Kick Club, features a familiar formula, but the presentation and catchy soundtrack (I need to buy the soundtrack to this compilation when it releases) make it a very enjoyable experience.

[BIL]

regards adding credits as too "pay-to-win"

You may want to edit that part, there's someone on this board that really, really, really doesn't like it when that's said (even though it's true), and regards continues as essential in 'developing strategy' (I'm guessing a strategy other than 'put money in until you win game' obviously). They may not open this thread, but in the event they do--well--I did my part.

WTF is this mother may I shit. >83 Get me two good men, a gym sock, and a tub of SAE 90. I'll handle the rest. (■｀w´■)

NSFW

Found today at market! (^ w ^)



SUCH A WASTE (■｀w´■)

He's not wrong though, whoever he is! World of difference between credit-feeding to "beat a game," and using a few continues to figure things out.

A further ghastly lowering of the tone / Party Like It's 20099

Long ago, when I was regularly on mission to the godless mainstream, I would tell the rabble thus. Imagine you challenge the top FTG badman to a FUCKEN RUMBLE. He banishes your cheeks from God's sight with the dispassionate fury of a collapsing neutron star. You coin in a fresh lifebar. Aeons hence, alien scientists ponder the sudden appearance of a second dwarf galaxy, then a third and a fourth.

A hundred sub-atomic obliterations later, ashes and ozone filling the air, buddy finally gets chip cheezummed by your trifling garbage. Congratulations! You are one-hundredth of the man required for the job. Scrubs and competitors are distinguished here. The former call it "victory," likely whining it was too easy. The latter use what they've learned to win with progressively fewer credits, eventually none at all.

The mainstream SUPERHARD/SUPEREASY Catch-22 will never be solved, as the "problem" is ultimately player-side. \(-w-)/ It's a difference of regard.

Personally I think the happiest medium is to allow continues, with checkpoints, while telling continuers in no uncertain terms that they suck, they're trash, they blow goats at the goat farm, and to STFU and wash your FUCKIN BALLS off their DUMB SCRUB FACE before they deign to so much as mention your game! A big red "HOLY FUCK YOU SUCK, L2P LMAO" stamped over "The End" sequence will suffice! Like a literal stamp. Give it a *BAM* sound effect and screen shake. Maybe even a jaunty tune talking about how the player's mom is a very nice lady who deserved a better son!

Gradius V did this very classily, not so much telling the player they were shit, but withholding acknowledgement until they got the 1ALL. Which is not much by battle-hardened STG nut standards, but lemme tell you, it was pretty fuckin steep for John Q. SNES bitd!

Metal Slugs 1-5 likewise give a valuable clue by noting "CONTINUES USED." That's another good way to spark a latent competitive spirit!

Well anyway, I'll talk to ya.

[FunktionJCB]

How's everyone enjoying the collection so far?
Pretty great stuff, isn't it?

So far, I only managed to try half the games.

It feels kind of "shallow" to just jump from game to game, instead of taking some proper time with them so you can improve and clear them, so I stopped doing that.
The quantity of games included can really overwhelm you.

But, my favourite so far is the simple, but highly addictive, Pingolf.
It's also the first game where I managed to beat it and its various goals, so I unlocked the item for the garden section, plus the gold and cherry cartridges.

Another cool thing is that this collection is filled with hidden stuff, and clearing Pingolf gives you a code in the credits to access some bonus characters.

[m.sniffles.esq]

He's not wrong though, whoever he is! World of difference between credit-feeding to "beat a game," and using a few continues to figure things out.

I can't remember who it was either. But they claimed that Japanese shooter devs have too much integrity and ethics to ever include 'pay to win' tactics in their games, and when I reminded them that continues were like the original 'pay to win' tactic, they FREAKED THE FUCK, and called me a bunch of not nice names I won't repeat (but they weren't nice)

I wasn't saying they couldn't be used for strategy, or anything. But something tells me that wasn't exactly the first order of business in their implementation.

[BIL]

Oh yeah I skimmed that thread, read like a blast from the musty auld past. I'd wondered if you meant the classic "Fake 1CCs" bunfight, a grave I'll leave undisturbed in reverence of the brave souls felled by flying pastry that day.

[BrianC]

I like how Velgress tries to mimic the FDS sound channel.

[Some-Mist]

velgress basically feels like upwell - a sequel to downwell, and I actually love it.

I grabbed my first cherry from star waspir with the 1CC and a 460k score w/ the red ship. it's no jaimers run but it still felt good

[Jeneki]

Found everything in Warp Tank finally. Lots of searching around in that one. the title screen belongs in Dick Stock

Got the 5 streak in House Party. The game makes perfect sense if you've played deck builder card games.

From a score play standpoint, Magic Garden is a standout. Really great risk-vs-reward, and setting up mega combos for huge payouts.

[Lander]

'Chip Cheezumed' is that a colloquialism for starting strong, then falling from grace while spouting irony and clutching a cup of fresh pussywhip?

Interested to try out UFO 50 at some point - seems lovingly-made, though I can't help but feel like the fun 50-in-1 presentation erodes the perceived quality of the individual games. Probably not so much an issue once you're in the door and having fun, but an occupational hazard to sending up Action 52.

Goodness knows when I'll get around to it though - Last Call BBS is still gathering dust in the in-tray!

[FunktionJCB]

(...) though I can't help but feel like the fun 50-in-1 presentation erodes the perceived quality of the individual games.

It totally does.
Most people I know won't even bother with it, because they perceive "50 game for low price tag = crap".

It's a bit sad on that front, since all the games I tried (and I haven't even tried all of them) have a lot of care and "love" placed in each of them.

[BIL]

'Chip Cheezumed' is that a colloquialism for starting strong, then falling from grace while spouting irony and clutching a cup of fresh pussywhip?

Any resemblances to persons alive or dead are purely coincidental or at most Freudian

[Some-Mist]

grabbed 5 cherries in ninpek (I was so excited to see a 2nd loop and nabbed that 2-ALL), bushido ball, star waspir, attactics, and the big bell race.
playing porgy now and it is semi-giving me 'in the hunt' vibes

[FunktionJCB]

The soundtrack is out now on Bandcamp.
331 tracks, for $7.

https://phlogiston.bandcamp.com/album/ufo-50

[Jeneki]

In case anyone forgot where the P is located.