RoryDropkick
Member
Started playing Faxanadu tonight. Got up to Fighter status and obtained the Mattock. I remember the game being slower to progress when I was younger. I guess I was a lot more impatient back then.
NES/Famicom Appreciation Thread
- Thread starter Teknoman
- Start date
My no death Ninja Gaiden 2 run.
Fuck Ashtar and fuck 7-2, that's all I have to say, lol. Oh and this took more months to do than the 1st one.
And no, I will not no death Ninja Gaiden 3, it's impossible, at best no continues at least.
I'll try to get playthroughs of the Contra NES playthroughs, which IMO aren't that difficult to do.
Fuck Ashtar and fuck 7-2, that's all I have to say, lol. Oh and this took more months to do than the 1st one.
And no, I will not no death Ninja Gaiden 3, it's impossible, at best no continues at least.
I'll try to get playthroughs of the Contra NES playthroughs, which IMO aren't that difficult to do.
That sounds interesting actually.
Huggers
Member
This tune is so good. I never got to this as a kid as it wasn't released in the UK. We missed out on Mega Man 6 too as I remember it, I'm sure there were others too.
Timu you got some skills!
Cracking idea man. Do it
So Faxanadu this month. Gah another I don't have immediately to hand. Might try and grab it soon to get involved
Huggers said:
Put together the ones that i've seen/listen to before, but posted in the Retro GAF unite thread. Not sure where else a list like that would fit.
I played some Faxanadu last night and got up to the first boss, but I wasn't really taking it too seriously so I died. This game will kick your ass if you're not paying attention. Also, you lose all your money and experience if you die? Yikes. Gonna give it a "real" shot soon, knowing what I know now.
entremet
Member
I have Faxanadu on the Wii VC, so I'm sticking with that version. Plus I can play it 240p over component on CRT, which looks awesome. My NES is still stock, not modded in any way.
Although it is cheap for a physical copy, relatively speaking, I've made an informal vow to only get physical stuff I can't get on VC/PSN or other legit marketplaces, unless the emulation is poor or the game has sentimental value.
Although it is cheap for a physical copy, relatively speaking, I've made an informal vow to only get physical stuff I can't get on VC/PSN or other legit marketplaces, unless the emulation is poor or the game has sentimental value.
IrishNinja
Member
Already posted?
Early Nintendo NES press release from March 20, 1986, announcing nationwide roll out
http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/10...tainment-system-press-release-surfaces-online
never seen this! love these little bits of history
The experience/money system is kinda weird. If I remember correctly, it is tiered, so if you get to level 2, you will always start with x amount of money, at level 3 you will start with a higher amount etc. So yeah, if you loose everything before you level up, everything will be gone.
Damn, you really have to go into dungeons prepared. Wandered around in the second one, got lost, but snagged enough money for winged boots. On the way back, I get busted by some stupid mage monster.
Proto Demon's Souls here. The enemies are just as twisted too. Dwarves must've been hit pretty hard with whatever curse we're fighting against.
Proto Demon's Souls here. The enemies are just as twisted too. Dwarves must've been hit pretty hard with whatever curse we're fighting against.
Sir Ilpalazzo
Member
Thanks for the writeup! I just got the true ending yesterday (the true final boss kicked my ass but I managed to just barely get by without having to use a continue). Excellent, excellent game - certainly one of the best on NES. Really a shame that this game didn't come out in America and get the recognition it deserved.
And yeah, I posted on Smashboards a little years back.
I played through Vice: Project Doom today too. Definitely a fairly cool game - I like how useful both of the subweapons are, and the hectic pace of the game is cool, but it felt a little messy compared to something like Ninja Gaiden (tanking hits was too viable an option sometimes) and the way the game likes to keep you near the screen border (where enemies spawn) leads to some obnoxious situations. The little genre switches were cool; I expected them to be used more often, but it probably is for the best that they were kept to a minimum.
IrishNinja
Member
it looks like it went up again recently, but yeah love the balls off that game
meant to grab Shatterhand & a few others before that happened, but hoping for a deal on an N8 board at this point!
meant to grab Shatterhand & a few others before that happened, but hoping for a deal on an N8 board at this point!
There's a copy on ebay right now for 20?
Anyone know what to do when only a few games are working on an nes? For some reason certain games like Godzilla and Space Shuttle Project work absolutely fine but then pretty much every other titles isn't. The nes played all of my titles before but the other day i was trying to play some games i bought and couldn't get them to work. I've cleaned up/adjusted the 72 pin connector but it doesn't seem to have done anything.
IrishNinja
Member
^how thoroughly have you cleaned the carts themselves? i literally opened all mine to clean both the boards & the shell themselves, tons of dust can hide in the corners!
So I started up Faxanadu and, I gotta say, this game has some issues.
Your super short-ranged melee attack has an animation delay and, even through extended practice, barely elevates itself beyond "awkward". You've gotta be right next to any enemy you want to attack, and several enemies move erratically and at high speeds. On top of that, there is a jarring knockback when you get hit, which can push you into another screen (respawing all enemies, of course). Oh, and the enemies might be placed where you can't possibly avoid being hit by them.
In addition, you can't change your jump trajectory in mid-air. And considering how slowly you move and how fixed your jump is, it's really odd that they chose to have gaps you need to make near pixel-perfect jumps to clear so early in the game. You can use a key you purchased to open a door, but if you ever want to enter the same door in the future you're going to have to consume another key. Death is brutally punishing. And, because I'm feeling nitpicky, you can't speed up speech balloons. You can B-cancel out of them, but that's no help when you need to wait through text to purchase an item or something.
Having said all that, it succeeds in several aspects too.
The soundtrack is fantastic and contains several memorable tunes. The graphics are tough to nail: On the one hand, the character portraits are great, the sprites are charismatic and charming (cigarette-smoking guy is just a joy to be around), and you really do feel like you're in a world composed of a living tree. Heavy use of earth tones create a consistent and engaging world. On the other hand, the tilework in the backgrounds is often really choppy, to the point where it looks almost glitched. And that reliance on earth tones means there will be points where your entire screen is just 3 shades of brown. The townspeople sprites are great but generally look nothing like the character portraits.
Other positive points include the experience system, which is innovative if a little odd (There's no way I understood how that worked as a child). The action, despite its many flaws, is tight and fun when it works. Magic spells allow you to keep distance between you and your enemies, and the fact that certain enemies always drop food (or always drop money or always drop nothing) means you don't have to worry about taking minor damage when you know you can get that life back. The information given you to by townspeople is clear, coherent and often useful. The game is pretty ambitious with its storytelling, all of which comes via people living in the circumstances they describe to you. Oh, and your character's sprite changes as he equips armor and weapons, which is always a nice touch.
I'm not sure if I'll have the patience to get through the whole thing. I imagine I'll do a lot better than I did as a kid, especially since I can (and will) reference online guides if they can help me avoid nasty surprises and play al little more efficiently. Let's face it, despite that being the way they were designed, a lot of NES games don't lend themselves well to blind runs. I can see how Faxanadu became a classic, though. Its ambition and charm make it easier to bear its flaws. Certainly worth playing.
Your super short-ranged melee attack has an animation delay and, even through extended practice, barely elevates itself beyond "awkward". You've gotta be right next to any enemy you want to attack, and several enemies move erratically and at high speeds. On top of that, there is a jarring knockback when you get hit, which can push you into another screen (respawing all enemies, of course). Oh, and the enemies might be placed where you can't possibly avoid being hit by them.
In addition, you can't change your jump trajectory in mid-air. And considering how slowly you move and how fixed your jump is, it's really odd that they chose to have gaps you need to make near pixel-perfect jumps to clear so early in the game. You can use a key you purchased to open a door, but if you ever want to enter the same door in the future you're going to have to consume another key. Death is brutally punishing. And, because I'm feeling nitpicky, you can't speed up speech balloons. You can B-cancel out of them, but that's no help when you need to wait through text to purchase an item or something.
Having said all that, it succeeds in several aspects too.
The soundtrack is fantastic and contains several memorable tunes. The graphics are tough to nail: On the one hand, the character portraits are great, the sprites are charismatic and charming (cigarette-smoking guy is just a joy to be around), and you really do feel like you're in a world composed of a living tree. Heavy use of earth tones create a consistent and engaging world. On the other hand, the tilework in the backgrounds is often really choppy, to the point where it looks almost glitched. And that reliance on earth tones means there will be points where your entire screen is just 3 shades of brown. The townspeople sprites are great but generally look nothing like the character portraits.
Other positive points include the experience system, which is innovative if a little odd (There's no way I understood how that worked as a child). The action, despite its many flaws, is tight and fun when it works. Magic spells allow you to keep distance between you and your enemies, and the fact that certain enemies always drop food (or always drop money or always drop nothing) means you don't have to worry about taking minor damage when you know you can get that life back. The information given you to by townspeople is clear, coherent and often useful. The game is pretty ambitious with its storytelling, all of which comes via people living in the circumstances they describe to you. Oh, and your character's sprite changes as he equips armor and weapons, which is always a nice touch.
I'm not sure if I'll have the patience to get through the whole thing. I imagine I'll do a lot better than I did as a kid, especially since I can (and will) reference online guides if they can help me avoid nasty surprises and play al little more efficiently. Let's face it, despite that being the way they were designed, a lot of NES games don't lend themselves well to blind runs. I can see how Faxanadu became a classic, though. Its ambition and charm make it easier to bear its flaws. Certainly worth playing.
Man i just watched your ninja gaiden 1 run , wow.
Im able to get to the last boss without dying but could never beat the 2nd form of him - you make it look so damn easy.
3 months of practice does that.
But yeah, Ninja Gaiden bosses aren't even that hard, even though Jaquio is the hardest in the game, once you learn his pattern along with using the wall trick or middle pillar he's not that bad.
Huggers
Member
Get those carts opened up and get cleaning. You'll be amazed how much dirt is on them and the difference it makes. Half my games were temperamental. Now 90% of them load first time
sixteen-bit
Member
Cute Twin Famicom-inspired shirt design
https://instagram.com/p/9tVsjHiRZr/
https://instagram.com/p/9tVsjHiRZr/
InfiniteNine
Rolling Girl
IrishNinja
Member
nice! cover label's in way better shape than some mega mans have seen too
The NES games seem to be ok in general but X is like fucking cursed.
I actually beat Faxanadu for the first time earlier this year! Here's a hint for everyone:
- Ironically enough, it is at that part where I initially gave up the ghost when I first played it many years ago.
The game also seems to get a bit easier as you progress, especially if you grab the magic shield early on and stock up appropriately on restorative items.
Also, be careful with the passwords. The font in the game is terrible and there were plenty of occasions where I got O and 0, i and I, 1 and I confused.
when you get to Victim (the reddish world with the fog everywhere), there's a tower... in this tower is a ring which supposedly raises your strength. Due to a glitch, this ring actually ends up lowering your strength! This is an entirely optional part of the game.
The game also seems to get a bit easier as you progress, especially if you grab the magic shield early on and stock up appropriately on restorative items.
Also, be careful with the passwords. The font in the game is terrible and there were plenty of occasions where I got O and 0, i and I, 1 and I confused.
I think im lost in Faxanadu. I dont want to resort to a faq, but whats up with the ruby ring? I thought I needed those winged boots the do whatever in the second dungeon, but I didnt. Opened the spring, and the people in town say to talk to the old man in the spring for the ring...but he just tells me about the other town.
EDIT: Nevermind, figured it out. Damn riddles.
EDIT 2: Well...this place is oppressing. I feel like im in Blighttown.
EDIT: Nevermind, figured it out. Damn riddles.
EDIT 2: Well...this place is oppressing. I feel like im in Blighttown.
I'm doing a run of Castlevania for Extra Life this weekend on a local stream and I was practicing last night. And man, was that game being a bastard! Random item drops from enemies screwing up my loadout like never before. I'm gonna have to practice more tonight with a little more caution before charging forward.
Good luck!! My downfall in Castlevania is always the boss fight against Death, mostly due to the blazingly hard the hallway before it (medusa heads and knights).
If I have the Holy Water neither of those is a challenge. Even the hallway isn't so bad if you get into a groove. The Death fight though is just painfully unfun unless you cheese him.
Flizzzipper
Member
I beat Contra for the first time yesterday. My thumb is still sore.
Going to start Faxanadu this weekend. Only thing I know about it is what people have posted in here. Sounds hard.
Going to start Faxanadu this weekend. Only thing I know about it is what people have posted in here. Sounds hard.
Congrats.
Sir Ilpalazzo
Member
Eh, I think the Death fight is kind of the highlight of the game (unless you use holy water). It's vicious for sure, but dealing with his absurd zoning as best you can with your subweapon of choice is really satisfying.
entremet
Member
Jeremy Parish (Former 1up/Current US Gamer EIC/toastyfrog here) started a new NES/Famicom survey series.
I know they're many of these, including Dr. Sparkle's Chrontendo, but I really like Parish's work.
Good Nintentions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qUZ6uNN_t8
I think Jeremy using an Analogue NT, so the video capture is really nice.
I know they're many of these, including Dr. Sparkle's Chrontendo, but I really like Parish's work.
Good Nintentions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qUZ6uNN_t8
I think Jeremy using an Analogue NT, so the video capture is really nice.
Castlevania is among my favorite games of all time based on how perfectly the design is laid out everywhere... except the Death fight. The fight is too chaotic and incredibly un fun due to the random nature of where and how the scythes spawn. It's out of control and the antithesis of everything that makes that game great.
Its cryptic, but not really hard imo.
I dont know what to think about this fight, in itself I like it, but I hate that it comes right after that hallway which is the most difficult part of the game. I think I have only beaten this once actually.
RadarScope1
Member
Nice to see him doing some NES vids. Can't believe he got 10 minutes out of this one. That game is incredibly primitive today.
Out of curiosity, where are you anyway?
Finland, land of polar bears and a small but enthusiasthic retro gaming community.