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[FortNinety]

So a place in Chinatown which I personally cannot stand (ever since they fucked up my PS2 with a shitty mod job) is having a sale on all their old import PSone titles, which I might take advantage of. Three in particular caught my eye..

Treasure Gear

Floating Runner

Cosmic Race

I know already that Cosmic Race is a piece of shit (it was called the worst game ever by Game Player magazine back in the day) but I still want it, for shits and giggles. But what about the other two?

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

If floating runner is the game I think it is, it eventually got a US port-- and sucked.

It was a novel idea of how to do a 3D platformer, anyway.

 

[brandonnn]

Yeah, Floating Runner was released here in the states, and was actually my very first Playstation game.

I returned it the next day.

It's not even worth it for the novelty -- save your money.

 

[FortNinety]

Wow, and Floating Runner was the game I was certain was good! I recall it getting buzz, but that's about it. Thanks!

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

It did get buzz. It was, technically, the first 3D, third-person platform game.

(Jumpin Flash was the first 3D platform game, but was 1st person.)

It managed the 3D by having a the world rotate around a fixed character. The angle of the camera never changes. It's sorta like playing an isometric platformer that spins around.

But the game was boring. In previews it got attention, but was slammed in reviews.

 

[FortNinety]

So that leaves Treasure Gear. Anyone ever give that a spin? Is it to Guradian Heroes like Gunners Heaven was to Gunstar Heroes?

 

[vireland]

I think treasure gear is an adventure-ish game. I have it, played it, realized it sucked hard, and forgot about it. I can dig it out and refresh my memory if no one else comes up with it.

And yes, Cosmic Race is *that* bad. There's some net yaroze stuff out there that's better written.

 

[Lyte Edge]

And yes, Cosmic Race is *that* bad. There's some net yaroze stuff out there that's better written.

:lol Cosmic Race is so bad that it's almost worth checking out (not buying!) just to see how truly awful a game can be. I think that was the only PSX launch title we were never able to sell at work. The game is probably stuck in the warehouse now; no way would anyone have purchased it!

 

[human5892]

You should definitely buy Cosmic Race (as long as it's not too much money) for the same reason that you might buy a really awful movie -- it's so unintentionally hilarious that it's worth the money. The random ninja loading screen alone is enough to get the ball rolling.

 

[jarrod]

(Jumpin Flash was the first 3D platform game, but was 1st person.)

Actually, there's several PC games that predate JF too. One of which came from Exact even (a MSX2 title iirc, who's name escapes me).

 

[BenT]

Actually, there's several PC games that predate JF too. One of which came from Exact even (a MSX2 title iirc, who's name escapes me).

Geograph Seal from 1994. For X68000.

 

[jarrod]

Geograph Seal from 1994. For X68000.

Thanks... screens look a lot like Jumping Flash actually (and a good year earlier). I think Infogrames' Alpha Waves/Continuum might be the first 3D platformer actually. PC game from 1991.

 

[brandonnn]

I think Infogrames' Alpha Waves/Continuum might be the first 3D platformer actually. PC game from 1991.

I can't even begin to count the number of hours I put into Continuum on my old 286. I might have to bust out the Mo'slo (or even finally try to get my head around Xbox's DOS emu's) and bliss/zen out all over again.

 

[SonicMegaDrive]

Wow, and Floating Runner was the game I was certain was good! I recall it getting buzz, but that's about it. Thanks!

I think it got a 2 page spread in a 1995 issue of GameFan, if that's what you're thinking.

 

[Mr_Furious]

all 3 are poop on a disc

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

Geograph Seal from 1994. For X68000.

Cool, I stand corrected.

 

[MightyHedgehog]

If you're on the prowl for old-ish PSone imports, I highly suggest getting a copy of 1 on 1. It's a badass basketball-versus-action game. Funny shit.

 

[enjoy bell woods]

Dave Halverson wants you to buy Hermie Hopperhead and Little Ralphy.

 

[drohne]

adventures of little ralph, if that's what you're referring to, is in fact one of the greatest platformers ever made. can't say the same for hermie.

 

[drohne]

oh, and the guardian heroes clone you're thinking of is probably panzer bandit. i've never played it, but it looks pretty decent.

 

[jarrod]

oh, and the guardian heroes clone you're thinking of is probably panzer bandit. i've never played it, but it looks pretty decent.

What ever happened to Fill in Cafe? Are they still around?

 

[vireland]

adventures of little ralph, if that's what you're referring to, is in fact one of the greatest platformers ever made.

Or not. It's an okay platformer in the old-skool vein, but among the greatest ever? Nah. I don't think even the demos for it were that popular in Japan. I got three of them in Akihabara without even trying - just pulled them out to make sure we were talking about the same game.

 

[drohne]

well, it has its devoted fans. i dig its arcade ethos. it's worth playing for score and one-credit clears.

 

[vireland]

i dig its arcade ethos. it's worth playing for score and one-credit clears.

I'll buy all of that.

I just didn't want someone breathlessly running out to find a contender for best platformer that's 5 years old when it was just *okay* when it was released. Remember Cybermorph? A little acid goes a long way.

 

[BenT]

I can't even begin to count the number of hours I put into Continuum on my old 286. I might have to bust out the Mo'slo (or even finally try to get my head around Xbox's DOS emu's) and bliss/zen out all over again.

I tried it again last year and honestly don't think it holds up. While it was fascinating to explore and experiment with back in the day, I don't think the actual game design is very good.

I remember the music being amazing on my old Adlib-compatible. Wish I could hear it played through that board again.

 

[belgurdo]

I think it got a 2 page spread in a 1995 issue of GameFan, if that's what you're thinking.

I remember that. You could tell you were reading a mag with Dave Halverson on the staff even then