Pushing Sixty

 This year marks sixty years of Sega. At time of writing, there are numerous details circulating bearing the Sega name (Sonic 2 going for free on Steam being one such example) and the artwork of the Sega games in my Steam account have been changed to reflect this.

It may be no challenge to sneer at Sega. They who dared to challenge Nintendo in the early nineties. They who had a pure fluke with the Megadrive/Genesis. They who had IPs that were few in great and countless in terrible. They who made some mind-boggling blunders in the mid-nineties. They who gave us Sonic the Hedgehog and his legions of clones. 

But I however spent my youth as more of a Sega fan than a Nintendo fan - call it an effect of being in country that isn't the U.S. Granted this meant that I ended up backing the wrong horse but it also means that I have a loyalty that just won't lay down and die. 

It may sound bizarre that I am more willing to give the time of day to Sega games than Nintendo games but that's the way it is. Would I rather go to the effort of digging up the gems on the Mega CD and the Saturn? I would - because it offers a history of gaming that is often hidden from the public eye. And, as is often the case, it's the losers who have the more interesting stories to tell. 

So here's to you Sega. Happy sixty years and hope you last for another sixty. 

Running Hollywood

So this has been doing the rounds recently.
A promo image of Sonic the Hedgehog for the upcoming LA movie.

 Original image located here. Accessed 11th March 2019

It looks completely stupid. What more do you want from me?

Hey! Hey! You! You! Get off of my Cloud!

The big news proliferating around gaming is the recent announcement that Cloud from Final Fantasy 7 will be a guest character in the upcoming latest iteration of the Super Smash Bros franchise.

It's an odd choice for sure. Sure Solid Snake had his origins as a NES game and Sonic the Hedgehog's presence is the ultimate wish fulfillment but Cloud? I don't get it.
Okay sure the first six Final Fantasy games originally appeared on Nintendo consoles but Cloud had nothing to do with those games so that connection is weak. And I'm not sure on the wish fulfillment either: I recall back in the early-to-mid-nineties that a lot of Nintendo fanboys hated Sega but I wasn't clear on their thoughts on Sony (except that guy I sat next to in IT class). Mind you, however the thoughts the Nintendo crowd may have had on Sony mob it is ironic considering that, years later, the PS2 would trounce both the Xbox and the Gamecube.

But I digress.

This could very well be SqueeEnix trying to keep FF7 in the public consciousness but like they needed the help. Likewise, it can't be argued that Cloud has more marketing brand than Cecil. Or Kain. Or Edge. Or Terra. Or Shadow. Or Edgar. Or Sabin. Or Setzer. Or...

Do you Sega what I Sega?

Here's something that's been bothering me for a while: How do you pronounce Sega?

When I was a kid, both myself and the people around me always called it by 'SEE-Gar' and no one ever thought any more of it. But such a pronunciation must've been an Australian thing because it is only in recent years that I've heard other people, more often than not from other parts of the world, call it 'SAY-Gar'.
This certainly was a surprise. Which is the correct pronunciation? I've been doing my way for so long it's hard to accept the other way.
One possible way of correct pronunciation, which comes straight from Sega themselves, is the Sega screen in Sonic the Hedgehog - but even that is unclear:

Original video located here. Accessed 13th March 2015

Does anyone know?

To be this good takes Ages

Following on from an earlier post, today I downloaded Radiant Silvergun and had a bash at it. I didn’t last long, which is unsurprising for an arcade shooter, but I was impressed with the number of shooting abilities on offer. Needless to say, this warrants further investigation.

What is of particular note is that with the purchase of Radiant Silvergun, the number of Sega games (as in either made by Sega or originated on a Sega console) on my XBLA account now reaches eight. It joins the likes of Sonic Adventure, Sonic CD, Ikagura, Soul Calibur, Daytona USA, Nights into Dreams and Guardian Heroes. Now whilst it may not sound like much it still represents a third of the games I have downloaded from XBLA.

I suppose having a particular empathy for the Sega games is a holdover from my days as a Sega fanboy. I guess once you’re a fanboy you’re one for life and you can never truly escape such a fate. However other reasons behind such an empathy exist in the form of:

• Perhaps playing Sega games on the Xbox it is a firm indication of Microsoft's replacing of Sega in the Console race
• Or maybe it is more of a case of finally playing games that I have previously only been able to admire from afar.

But most likely there is still the faint glimmer of hope that if Sega games are being brought maybe a miracle may happen and we’ll finally see a re-release of Panzer Dragoon Saga and Shining Force 3.

But what are the odds of the happening, amIrite?

A Tail and a half

When I was kid, I'd play Super Mario bros with my older brother. He didn't have to but he did.
And, as befit the older brother, he'd choose Mario and leave me with Luigi. It's the same story that may sound familiar to many other people and it's a tradition that continues to this day.

Strangely, whenever we played Sonic 2, my bother would always opt to play as Tails - which i found kinda odd as out of Sonic and Tails, Tails was clearly the younger of the two XD

Feel Good Hit of the Summer

At time of writing, it is summer time here in Australia. Meaning there is a lot of sunshine and warmth - something that means little to the average gamer as gaming is a (mostly) indoor activity. Still at least being inside keeps me from getting sunburn.

Anyway, I'm an adamant believer in the notion that certain games require a certain atmosphere. Certain games work in certain environments, that indeed add considerably to the experience, but others don't. By way of example, would anyone play a horror game like Amnesia the Dark Descent in a brightly lit room? I don't think so.

So what games do I like play/revisit during the summer months? Well, I like games that really fit the summer mood: There is no set criteria but bright colors certainly help and generally a mood of warmth and/or tropics.

With this in mind here's what I designate as Summer games:

Pharaoh
It's set in a desert and based around a civilisation building itself around a river. How can this not be a summer game? It's also in possession of a sense of warmth that has never been before or since. 

Secret of Mana
More of a personal choice on my part: I played this during the summer of 2005 where my interest in gaming was subsequently rekindled.  Somehow, with such bright graphics and glorious soundtrack, playing this game during the winter months seem pointless.

Secret of Monkey Island
It's got pirates, a well realised setting and a reggae soundtrack. Sounds like a great game to play during the summer months to me. It being chock full of hilarious moments doesn't hurt either

Skies of Arcadia
Once again, bright colours, a brilliant soundtrack and great environments. Throw in a great sense of exploration and it's little wonder why this is game that I keep finding myself returning to (not to mention a good enough reason to hang onto my Dreamcast).

Sonic the Hedgehog
I've fond memories playing this game during many a summer and I suspect I'll have more. I don't know why this game works so well as a summer game but it just does. And therein lies the thought that if I think about this too much it may be ruined.

World of Warcraft (Stanglethorn)
Blue skies, beaches, and perhaps the best-realised jungle environment I've ever seen in a game. Come for the questing, stay for the sunsets ;)

PS2 Hearts Beat as One

The big news of recent weeks is Sony ceasing production of the PlayStation 2. Yep after twelve years, the PS2 has been retired leaving behind a library of highly-regarded games and the status of the great selling console ever. Admittedly, it is a disappointment that the PS2 few short (of two years) of claiming the title of longest lasting console from the Atari 2600 but ya can’t have everything.

I purchased my PlayStation 2 in early 2006. I still remember the moment quite accurately: Going into Target and handing over so much money for a silver streamlined PS2 console and three games (Final Fantasy X, Gran Turismo 3 and Grand Theft Auto 3). In the time since, my PS2 was a loyal companion – it inspired many nights of late gaming (due to day spent with my University studies at the time).
It showed me many a game, many of which I was unaware existed.
It woke my interest in gaming up from a coma.
It inspired me to seek out games on the PS1 that I’d longed to play but was unable to at the time.
It introduced me to friends such as Ico, Kratos, Amaterasu, Solid Snake and Zidane.
It went with me to LANs and was the basis of many a Soul Caliber 3 bash.
It even followed me to Melbourne.
It was used extensively by both myself and Kathleen in our apartment.
It even got use when faced by stiff competition in the form of a Wii and an Xbox 360.
It came to represent the sixth generation for me – which has since proven to be a tough act to follow

Although my PS2 has been rather dormant in recent months, I can safely say there is still life in the old dog yet: It still works fine, I still have some games to complete and the occasional use of the Sonic collection is always fun.
Still even if the PS2 has been discontinued, the damn thing has done much to contribute to my interest in gaming and a permanent place in my gaming history is assured. It’s time may have ended but it’s existence will forever be appreciated.

R.I.P. Sony PlayStation 2

Keep Dreamin'

I've said it once and I'll say it again: Sega are really doing themselves by not making their back catalogue of non-Megadrive/Genesis games readily available. Sure there have been a few games on the Master System/Saturn/Dreamcast slipping through the cracks on PSN and XBLA but what about the rest? Whilst Sega may have had more than few failed consoles to their name, I can still think of some games in Sega's back catalogue that could benefit from a second look.

I could see some reluctance on Sega's part namely a) the difficulty of obtaining rights of certain games with certain gaming studios scattering elsewhere b) an unwillingness to release something that has no guarantee of decent sales and c) the idea that maybe Sega's failed consoles is something they would like to forget. Reasonable claims I will admit but I've heard of such games being spoken of in near mythical terms and needless to say my curiosity is piqued.
I can think of several games on the Mega CD that may be worth dusting off and preserving for gamers both now and in the future, namely Eternal Champions, Lunar, Popful Mail, Robo Aleste, Shining Force CD, Silpheed, Snatcher and Vay (and who says it was all Sonic CD?)
And on the Saturn front, I would certainly like to play the likes of DragonForce, Astal, Shining the Holy Ark and Panzer Dragoon Zwei. I know of games that may benefit from a proper translation like Assault Suit Leynos 2, Shining Force 3, Magical Knight Rayearth and Grandia. And need I mention how many people want to see a proper rerelease of the Holy Grail of gaming Panzer Dragoon Saga?

Of course I've gathered this laundry list of titles through research - I've heard all of these titles spoken highly of both Sega fans and (general) gamers alike so it makes me interested in checking them out. One problem though: How do I do it? This in turn goes back to Sega not taking action to preserve their gaming catalogue and make it readily available. Listen to me Sega: Would you rather people get to these games through using emulators and denying you of some actual money?

The recent arrival of Nights Into Dreams to the XBLA provides new, solid evidence to suggest otherwise that Saturn games may be difficult to emulate or even revamped to stunning effect. Sure Nights was also ported to the PS2 but the presence of other Saturn games on XBLA, Guardian Heroes, Radiant Silvergun, could be another reason for, right?
But alas if the spectacular revamp of Nights will prove anything, it will be proof fifth generation gaming can be rebuilt in such a manner. And thus yielding another excuse for those wanting a new Final Fantasy 7 to persue their tireless crusade (fingers in the ear and all). Okay but how about we ask for something we HAVEN'T played?

You're an all star

I recently heard that a follow up to Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing is currently in development.
I've played the first game and I thought it was all right. Sure I bear the scars of having lived through years when everyone was making their own karting game in an attempt to match the success of the original Super Mario Kart, but Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing was good fun - and a great way to put one's friendships on the line just to notch up a win (although it is bit puzzling as to why the super fast Sonic needs a car....).

A look at the character list reveals some familiar faces: Vyse of Skies of Arcadia, Nights from Nights into Dreams, Gillius Thunderhead from Golden Axe and Joe Musashi from Shinobi. Much like the first game, the character roster seems spread across Sega's history with some classic figures stepping back into the light and some lesser-known faces getting a second shot. The titular character from the upcoming movie Wreck it Ralph is also present (nice tie-in there), real life racing driver Danica Patrick is also in, and the racing tracks will be inspired by the likes of Outrun, Panzer Dragoon and Afterburner.

Whilst it is nice to see Sega dust off some of their other IP, it does make one wonder if they may have something up their sleeve. Years earlier Nintendo did the same thing with Super Smash Bros Brawl - notably with the presence of the character Pit which eventually led to a new Kid Icarus game - twenty years since the last one.
Could this be a sign a change may be afoot? Considering that Sega finally released Nights into Dreams on the XBLA with a new HD remakes one would think that Sega may be trying some market research to see if some old IP may be worth something.
It maybe too early to call but for the romantics among us, it would be nice to think that Sega may finally be moving past their Megadrive/Genesis glory days and digging up some lost treasures to preserve. The Saturn games have built a reputation for being notoriously difficult to emulate but the presence of Nights (even if it was also on the PS2) is a step in the right direction.
If so, how about Panzer Dragoon Saga eh?

Sonic KaBoom

Following on from the problems I've had with Sonic CD on the XBLA, I did some research and it turns out that both the Japanese and US releases of the original game had different music. And the subsequent XBLA re-release has the original music restored. Thus, whereas I was expecting to hear something I was familiar with (the US music) what I'm hearing is the original (Japanese music).
But the promised switch between the two soundtracks has yet to be found.
Needless to say, the change from familiarity - even if it's completely wrong - is indeed jarring. Still there is the possibility that the Japanese soundtrack may grow on me...

Other than that, I'm really astonished how Sonic CD looks on the XBLA. I've said before that many games from previous generations look dumb now when we're all using very powerful TVs but here Sonic CD looks incredible - and indeed hard to imagine it being a Megadrive game (albeit one with great music). I've heard that this revamp for the XBLA was done by one guy and I'm astonished by the quality of the finished product - somehow one thinks this was Sonic CD, often regarded as the strongest of Sonic's offerings, with the red-carpet treatment it thoroughly deserved. .

XBLAndering forward

 Some more recent acquisitions for my Xbox (courtesy of XBLA):

Tetris Splash
What can I say? It's Tetris - however with a nuatical theme - and it's still as timeless and addictive as it ever was. My previous version of Tetris can't run on my computer (curse the 64x transition!) so this is a welcome addition in my book.

Daytona USA
The presence of this game seems a bit redundant as I'm not a Xbox Live user but it's still a great game to play - the HD revamp looks great too. And let us not forget that unrelenting refrain of : "Daytooooooonnnnnnnaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!"

Sonic CD
Again, this is nice to have in HD but there's something about this that rubs me the wrong way: Where is the original music?! The original soundtrack to Sonic CD was wonderful enough - which coming from a Mega CD game was hardly surprising - so to hear something completely different is indeed a surprise and an unwelcome one at that. Apparently there is the option to switch between soundtracks but I have yet to find it.

You. Me. Outside. Now

Some gaming deathmatches I would like to see:

Kratos (God of War) vs Amaterasui (Okami)

Sephiroth (Final Fantasy 7) vs Kefka (Final Fantasy 6)

Samus Aran (Metroid) vs Femshep (Mass Effect)

Lara Croft (Tomb Raider) vs Nathan Drake (Uncharted)

Kratos (God of War) vs The Master (Actraiser)

Morrigan (Dragon Age Origins) vs Morrigan Aensland (Darkstalkers)

Shodan (System Shock 2) vs GlaDOS (Portal)

Wander (Shadow of the Colossus) vs. James Sutherland (Silent Hill 2)

Vaan (Final Fantasy XII) vs. Vyse (Skies of Arcadia)

Aerith (Final Fantasy 7) vs. Nei (Phantasy Star 2)

Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy 7) vs. Taki (Soul Calibur 3)

Duke Nukem vs. Sonic the Hedgehog

31 Songs (no.2)

Welcome to part two of this series and thanks for joining us. Well let's not dither around, let's dive straight in.
Last week I talked about the gaming themes I listened to, and enjoyed, as a kid. And seeing as nearly all of them came from games on the Commodore 64, let's head into the next generation of gaming history. That's right, lets talk the fourth generation - it's round about here that many recognizable themes begin to show their faces. So which have I enjoyed and which still hold up years later? Let's find out...

Cannon Fodder - War has Never Been So Much Fun

Let's kick things off with a game that wasn't on the Megadrive or SNES! Okay so maybe this game got converted onto the afore-mentioned systems but honestly? In retrospect, the Amiga definitely comes across as being the true version.
I’ve made mention of Cannon Fodder previously where I pointed out how the game was devised as an anti-war game masquerading as strategy game. And no better is this idea exemplified than with this rather cheerful sounding, but still quite morbid, title theme. Handled by the late great Richard Joseph, this one of those rare computer game themes that invite a singalong – and how can one not? The song is built around a repetitive chorus that’s quite catchy – but go beneath the surface and it’s clear the song is a condemnation as opposed to a glorification. But it’s only after the listener has been sucked in by the lyrics that the realisation becomes crystal clear. For any song to pull that off is feat in itself but for a videogame theme? Absolute genius. Interestingly enough I can’t think of any other games that feature a singalong opening theme (except Sonic CD) – maybe they needn’t bother as Cannon Fodder did it right the first time around.
Interestingly enough this song didn’t survive the conversions to the Megadrive or SNES – as such the point of was lost in mass of blips. So listen to this in all it’s original glory and chalk one up for the underdog.
(and yes I am well aware of the irony of me mentioning this song on Remembrance Day so please don't point that out)


Final Fantasy 6 - Terra's Theme

Yeah well we all knew this was going to happen: It seems to be some sort of law that you can't talk video game music without mentioning the Final Fantasy series.
In last week’s post, I was praising the composers of the C64 era in how they managed to come up with material so memorable and evocative through the limited of technology. And the same could be said for Final Fantasy 6. Now whilst the SNES had some great soundtracks in it’s own right (some of which are mentioned later on in this post), I personally feel that Final Fantasy 6 has a soundtrack that could be truly considered epic. Now whilst many video games of soundtracks may strive for an epic feel in their soundtrack, I think Final Fantasy 6 may have been the first to do so - and hey, a game soundtrack boasting the only opera ever written for game is something not to be sniffed at.
So this is a theme that’s repeated many times throughout the game in different forms (leitmotifs one would call them) yet one never gets tied of it. It consists of a sweeping, epic feel that one would expect from the likes of Richard Wagner or John Williams yet it never once feels out of place in a videogame. It evokes many emotions from the sombre to the inspiring. And seeing this theme matched up to three mechs traveling through the snow truly makes for an unforgettable sight. And for a theme to accomplish all of this is indeed impressive.
But then again what would I know? In the end, it’s one of the finest pieces of music to emerge from the entire series and perhaps one of the real signature pieces of Final Fantasy (One Winged Angel be damned!). It’s also a damn good tune too.


Golden Axe 2 - Ravaged Village

I must admit - whilst I may have sworn my fourth generation allegiances to Sonic and the Megadrive, a lot of games on the Megadrive look different from an adult perspective - they have not aged at all that well. And such is the case of the music: Many Megadrive game music sound ghastly and irritating now but Golden Axe 2 is an exception.
I love the Golden Axe games for the action, the artwork, setting and obvious steals from the Conan the Barbarian mythos. And I really enjoyed the music with Golden Axe 2: Listening to it now really encapsulates the feel of traveling from one end to the other of a ravaged land that is being torn apart by some evil forces of insurmountable odds. Pounding drums are featured throughout and the soundtrack still sounds great. In fact, I think the music in Golden Axe 2 is better than that of the original Megadrive Golden Axe.
That being said, there's not much I can add to Ravaged Village - It's the best theme in the entire game and it encapsulates the feel of the rest of the soundtrack in general. It’s just the type of thing one could do with listening to when assaulting a village filled with Orcs…


Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past – Light World Dungeon theme

Strange as this may seem but I don’t think that the music from subsequent Zelda games aren’t as good as Link to the Past. That’s not to say that the music to Twilight Princess and Ocarina of Time have been crummy – far from it – but it is only in Link to the Past that the soundtrack has made the greatest impression on me.
Now whilst there have been some superb themes from Link to the Past that may have been worthy of consideration, the one I will always remember is the Light World Dungeon theme. It starts off nasty and foreboding before it gives way to a hypnotic synthesizer riff – and the inclusion of the (imitation) trumpet is the icing on the cake. There may not be much going on in this theme but it works wonders. It’s a triumph of minimalism evoking danger, darkened corridors and stepping into the unknown. Many RPGs have tried to replicate similar feelings but this is the one, I feel, that does it the best. And who would’ve guessed that a trumpet could work for a dungeon theme?


Phantasy Star 4 - Air Castle

As mentioned above whereas many Megadrive game music sounds dated today there are however three exceptions I'm willing to make. Golden Axe 2 is one and Phantasy Star 4 is another (and the third? Keep reading...)
As PS4 was pretty much the last hurrah for the original series, it seems the creators went all out with this one: Everything from the gameplay, graphics and storyline is top-notch and made with obvious care and love as one could muster for a last hurrah. And indeed, the soundtrack sounds great throughout - even to the point where I never thought it possible for the Megadrive.
And then there's this: the Air Castle theme. The Air Castle may be one of, if not the, toughest dungeon in the game so what music accompanies this area? The loudest and most scariest theme in the entire game. This seems the ultimate throwing down of the gauntlet: A dungeon theme that's taunting the player is if to say: "You want to step in here? You must be crazy!" I like the pulsating bass line throughout, the freaky synthesizer effects and, how the theme fades in once a battle's been fought and the dungeon resumes. This definitely seems the theme of a warlord's fortress, challenging anyone foolish enough to enter.
Interestingly enough, when I was doing research for this post, I found out this theme is actually a remix of the original dungeon theme for Phantasy Star 1. Comparing the two, the original seems more stiff and bland - whilst with this remix, one felt the theme was given the bite it so originally deserved.


Secret of Mana - Fear of Heavens

Yeah it’s another no-brainer but dammit if I could include the entire soundtrack to this game to this list then I would. Every damn song on there is a gem and exhibits a lot of variety and creativity on the composer’s part (one Hiroki Kikuta). I’ve said that many Megadrive soundtracks have dated horribly in the years since but that does not seem to be the case with the soundtracks from the SNES. The system may be long gone but Secret of Mana possesses that rare trait of having a soundtrack that never once sounds outdated – indeed many more modern games don’t come close. Wonderment, adventure, and mood emphasis – the Secret of Mana OST does all this and more – And special mention must go to the haunting-like-no-other game over theme Close Your Eyelids.
That being said, choosing one of this list isn’t easy (A Curious Tale, Into the Thick of It, The Dark Star are all beauties) but I settled with the opening theme. In my Degeneration serial, I noted I disappeared from gaming for a number of years – But that turned around when I decided to hunt down Secret of Mana and give it a shot. Thus hearing the opening piano chords to Fear of Heavens for the first time and I knew the exile was over. Now I could to continue to gush over how good the soundtrack to Secret of Mana is but I would rather leave that to the many critics the internet has to offer. Instead, I’ll say that Secret of Mana, and Fear of Heavens, represents a place in time – a point in my life where things changed completely. Everyone has pieces of music that do that type of thing (and if you don’t then you’re a liar) but for a theme to a videogame to do just that is indeed an accomplishment in itself.


Sonic the Hedgehog - Green Hill Zone

And it’s a hat trick for the Megadrive - although admittedly, the inclusion of this shouldn’t really come to as a surprise. Now whilst the original Sonic the Hedgehog game had many exceptional themes, many of which still sound great twenty years later, I’ve decided to go with the original Green Hill Zone theme. True the themes to the Marble Zone, Spring yard Zone and Star Light Zones are all superb, but this for me was pretty much the beginning of an adoration of Sonic – and I’m certain I’m not the only one.
If anything, the themes of Sonic the Hedgehog represent a time and place better than any game soundtrack I've ever heard. And hey, if they left an impression on me as a nine-year old that has lasted twenty years since, then something must've worked. And for a game soundtrack to do that is an impressive feat indeed.


Super Metroid - Brinstar

One thing I like about SNES music is how good it is replicating the sounds of bass guitar. And this is a shining example of that principle (the Filmore theme from Actraiser and certain themes from Tetris Attack are also good examples). Indeed, the bass line dominates the song and is pretty much the focal point throughout the song. Also pleasing are the many colors built around the bass with the percussion effects and the weird keyboard effects.
But enough with the technical talk: Whilst much of the music to Super Metroid is minimalist, often used to haunting effect, this theme sounds more like a fully-formed theme. But it is no less freaky. It’s a bizarre amalgam of natural sounds combined with a sci-fi/technological theme – much like Brinstar itself. Such a combination seems a recipe for disaster – but that’s not the case with this theme. It does what it sets out to do and does so with flying colours – much like Super Metroid itself.
In fact let’s just drop the pretenses altogether: I think finding the words as to why I like this theme is doing this theme a disservice. Just listen to the damn theme yourself and draw your own conclusions.


Terranigma - Underworld

One of the lesser known titles in the SNES canon, Terranigma still has managed to garner some recognition in the years since the 16-bit era. Aside from being a forgotten treasure (if you were in the US at least) it has been praised for being a solid RPG, the philosophical themes the game addresses and being somewhat ahead of it’s time. But it’s in the music that Terranigma comes into it’s own, standing proudly as one of the finest in the SNES library. And again, there are many masterful pieces in the soundtrack that it makes selecting one a tough task. However I decided to go with this: The Underworld theme. This is the first thing the player hears when Ark steps beyond his village, the only world he was ever known, and ventures into the real world. And what does he find? A dead, lifeless world that’s waiting to be brought to life.
In any RPG, a lot rests on the shoulders of the music – it can establish a mood and convey an idea that gets the player thinking. Whilst there have been themes in RPGs that have been used for exploring and adventure, this theme sounds different. Whereas other themes have been inspiring and stepping out into a weird and wonderful world, this theme sounds far more sombre and cautious, suggesting that maybe the outside world isn’t really that great. Of course, this isn’t the way it’s meant to be done but to me, that makes the theme work so well.


And that's it for the fourth generation! Tune in next week when we head into the age of fifth generation where Playstation takes the field and many more memorable themes come into play. Which of them made an impression on me? I think you might be surprised....

Return of Saturn

Megadrive emulators are now a dime a dozen aren’t they? Frist there was the Megadrive Collection and then the Sonic Mega Collection and now, more recently, there’s Sega Megadrive Ultimate collection and the Sega Gold Classics Collection.

I was already suspicious with the presence Sega Megadrive Ultimate collection: Whilst the presence of a Hi-Def revamp is welcome enough, it begged the question of why the collection needed to exist: Many of these games are available for download on the Virtual Console, XBLA and the PSN and many of them appeared on the previous collection. But if the existence of the Sega Megadrive Ultimate collection is a puzzling one then what is the purpose of the Sega Gold Platinum Diamond Classics Hall of Fame Whatever the hell it’s called Collection? Many of the games featured on this monstrosity are already available elsewhere (and without much difficulty) and the actual differences to it and it’s predecessors are minor. So the question remains: why does this latest compilation exist?

Personally, I’m growing tired of Sega’s old games reappearing in these collections. True we can all agree that Sega’s defining moment came in the form of the Megadrive but the continual presence of these collections is more than beating a dead horse. Don’t get me wrong: I loved Sonic and the Megadrive when I was a kid but I don’t want the same games being churned out in a factory-like fashion. I don’t want the lesser moments of Sega trying to pass themselves off as a highpoint. I don’t want Sega to keep telling me: “Remember when we used to be good?!?!?”

Sure we may all agree that the Megadrive was Sega’s finest hour but this is what disturbs me the most: Anything else simply doesn’t matter. Now I can understand that re-releasing old games and making them readily available can inspire both old-timers, like myself, and entice the curious but why is this move confined to the Megadrive? Sega made other consoles but they are being shunned – but even before I complete typing this sentence I can already think of the reason why: The Megadrive sold and the others didn’t. Thus it seems possible that Sega isn’t willing to take such risks and, most likely, would rather their past mistakes remained buried. True the Dreamcast got a collection of it’s own on the 360 but most likely the console itself was a decent enough seller to warrant it (a worthy achievement in itself seeing how much vile is reserved for other failed consoles in the history of gaming).

But personally I would like to see Sega’s other consoles given a new lease of life: I want to see the Mega CD brought back into the light and maybe given the respect that eluded it the first time around. Forget the lousy FMV that plagued the system and one will find the system had some worthy games that are indeed worth a second chance: Android Assault, Eternal Champions, Final Fight, Lunar Silver Star, Popful Mail, Vay, Silpheed, Shining Force and Snatcher. Who knows? If you focus on the strengths, people may be willing to forget the faults.
And what about the Saturn? Some may claim that Sega maybe unwilling to touch it because of Saturn’s infamous complexity in programming the games for it. But most likely Sega may not be willing to return to a rather black spot in their history. However I think otherwise - I can think of some highlights that may surely warrant a second look: Burning Rangers, Deep Fear, Dark Seed, Dragon Force, Guardian Heroes, Radiant Silver gun and Shining in the Holy Ark. If they did a new version of NiGHTs for the Wii why not dust the original off? Who wouldn’t want to see the two unreleased chapters of Shining Force 3 finally see the light of day? And how many of you want the play the fabled Panzer Dragoon Saga (I know I do!)?
Hey if people can come with an emulator for the Saturn then it is possible to circumnavigate the complexity of the system, right?

Alas, as I said before, it seems that whilst the Megadrive was a big seller the other consoles in Sega’s history weren’t. Thus it seems clear that Sega aren’t prepared to take such a risk. And the mention of risks seems a bit strange since the Sega I grew up with wasn’t the kind to play it safe. Sure many of those risks didn’t exactly pay off but who was it that shrugged off the Mortal Kombat fatalities when Nintendo balked out? Sega. Who had the audacity to permanently bump off a character partway through their flagship RPG series before Aerith Gainsborough? Sega.

Okay so maybe Sega aren’t exactly in a position where they once were able to take chances but dammit, I would rather see a collection of Mega CD or Saturn games than yet another attempt to convince me Altered Beast, Bonanza Bros, Gain Ground and the Megadrive Virtua Fighter were any good.
And hey, I would’ve gladly played Knuckles Chaotix appear on the Sonic Gems Collection, as opposed to the lousy Game Gear games, any day

Wii Like U!

Here's a little something I contributed to this site

With the announcement of the successor to the Wii, in the form of the Wii-U, many minds will begin to consider that now is the time for the seventh generation of consoles to stand aside and make way for the eighth generation. Hardly surprising since we gamers need a constant stream of technological prowess to keep our fleeting attention spans held – lest we find something else to blow our money on. I guess this is the end result of sixth previous generations of building powerful technology and mind-blowing graphics: Each successive console generation is ultimately a cycle that we’ve somehow become unflinchingly accustomed to.

But I digress. With the announcement of the Wii-U, all eyes now turn to Nintendo. The old war horse; the company that gave us icons like Mario, Link, Donkey Kong and Samus; The organisation that has pretty much become synonymous with video gaming; the survivor who beat off the upstart that was Sega and the company that wrote the rules of the game and before changing them all.
The question now is what can Nintendo do now?

In recent years, Nintendo have attracted disgust from many gamers – The Gamecube has never been able to escape the stigmata of being a ‘kiddie’ console having built a fanbase around Nintendo fans and younger gamers (whereas everyone else fled to the bosom of the Playstation and Xbox). The Wii hasn’t fared much better either: Being outclassed by it’s rivals, having games exclusively marketed at the casual fanbase and, well, not making games for the Wii. This, along with some baffling decisions (the response to Project Rainfall being one such example) has now placed Nintendo in a position where many of it’s fans are responding with either anger or defection to the PS3 and the 360). It’s indeed surprising that this disgust has come about considering that this was a company who everyone adored with unquestionable passion – even when a potential usurper arrived in the form of Sega.
So whilst the Wii may have made Nintendo enough money to stay float the question still remains: what can they do now?

One problem – and perhaps the most obvious one – is that Nintendo have been basing much of their strategy on familiarity (I refuse to use the N-word in this article). Sure the NES may have given us Super Mario Bros, legend of Zelda and Metroid but these franchises have turned up with each successive console (well maybe not Metroid for the N64 but whatever). The idea of using familiarity to sell something new is good in theory but now Nintendo have been reusing established franchises to the point where it is now expected. Sure some people may be a bit tired of Nintendo reusing their well-established franchises but to build new franchises isn’t that simple: The old guard have taken root and there’s no shifting them. Can anyone now imagine buying a Nintendo console without a Mario or a Zelda game? Of course not. People like familiarity and the comfort they bring so to introduce new faces would most likely send ripples of panic into the prospective buyers. Granted the roster in Super Smash Bros Brawl was a brave attempt by Nintendo to give new light to some forgotten franchises but I doubt anyone would’ve recognised half of them. Get past Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Peach, Yoshi, Wario, Zelda, Link, Ganondorf, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Fox, Falco, Captain Falcon, Samus, the Pokemon, Kirby, Snake and even Sonic and you’re left with a bunch of faces so unrecognizable you’d wonder why they bothered to show up.

And then there’s the Virtual Console. I thought this was a great idea as I thought it great opportunity for veteran gamers (like myself) to pick up great games they may have missed out on the first time around. Indeed, it can be argued that having games available for download may have inspired both the XBLA and the PSN. And I’m certain that I’m not the only one who picked up a Wii just for the Virtual Console. But that’s just it: The presence of these games and indeed the Virtual Console are nothing new and ultimately solidifying the perception that Nintendo are getting by on their established IP. Sure I may have spent more than few dollars on Virtual Console games but I can’t help thinking that I, if maybe, have contributed to the furthering of Nintendo’s current (and unwelcome) position of furthering familiarity and rehashing stuff that worked before.

Talk about shooting one’s self in the foot.

Also, whilst the Wii may have saved Nintendo and keep them in the game (so to speak) for a little while longer but it seems to have also made them too comfortable. I mean, are Nintendo actually putting out games with actual content? Sure Goldeneye 007, Smash Bros Brawl and Twilight Princess, may have been big titles but of those three, one’s remake, one’s a rehash made to fulfill fan desires and one was looking at Ocarina of Time’s blueprint. Again, it is this reuse of old ideas. Are Nintendo even trying any more? Sure the Wii may have been a big seller but there is not enough games for it to justify the big sales or its potential as a game console. Sure making games may be a job like any another but that’s no reason to stop caring and be half-arsed about it.

Indeed, it is telling that nowadays, Nintendo seem to be lavishing far more attention to the 3DS – perhaps far more than what is necessary. Indeed, the negative response to Project Rainfall may have been the final straw for most people and they’ve subsequently given up on Nintendo completely – many who’ve been unbending in nearly two decades of devotion. Why plug the Wii-U as ‘hardcore’ friendly when the snubbing of Project Rainfall says otherwise?

But this is what bothers me: A video game company that makes bad decisions? One that ignores it’s fanbase and makes games that is more or less shovelware? One that relies on past glories and makes almost exclusively first party games? One that introduces a new technology but is unable to make good use of it? One that is subsequently out classed by it’s rivals?

Didn’t all these things happen to Sega?

Whilst Sega’s days of a console developer have long gone, the memory of the once great console giant lingers – not to mention it’s ultimate downfall (one being even greater than that of Atari). As history has a nasty habit of repeating itself, it would be interesting to see whether or not Nintendo can avoid a similar fate.

So what can Nintendo do now? That’s a very good question….

Degeneration (no.4)

And thus we arrive to the fourth generation.

Now those who’ve been following this series will note that my recollections seem somewhat hazy. This is due to things being experienced out of order and exact moments in my gaming history are difficult to pinpoint.
But now all that is changed. Because I can recall one particular moment that sold me over: It remains burned in my memory as a turning point and, in retrospect, marks my true beginning as a gamer. And that moment was this:

Megadrive (or as some of you call it Genesis)

I recall reading through my brother’s video game magazine and was hit by a full page ad for Sonic the Hedgehog. And, like hundreds of other people, it was all over. I had know idea who this blue guy was but I was sold with his big eyes, cocky grin and a general ‘bring it on’ disposition. Naturally, this led me gravitating towards the Megadrive.



Needless to say, when I finally saw one in action, I wasn’t disappointed. It seemed a world apart form the eight bit games I had seen before. Of course this was all 16-bit but it seemed beefier: Anything seemed possible within this new gaming technology, with colourful graphics, large worlds to explore and character that would be impossible to replicate on the Master System, NES or Commodore 64.
As luck would have it, my cousin had one so many times were spent talking about games and playing them to death. Many memories were built up and some I still recall: Playing two player games of Golden Axe 2, the theme to the first level of Truxton, the character of Rocket Knight Adventures, being floored by the rotoscoped graphics to Flashback, playing an ace conversion of the Mortal Kombat arcade, being impressed by the tactical pace of Jungle Strike, being blown away by both Sonic and being excited about the arrival of Tails in Sonic 2 (and subsequently laughing by how many times he died through following Sonic).

However looking back through an adult perspective, there is a lot that hasn’t aged well in the world of the Megadrive. A lot of games have aged horribly (most of them being part of the pre-Sonic era when this new technology was being figured out) through lousy graphics, crummy sounds and being dull to play. Many game soundtracks now sound dreadful given the limited sound prowess of the console (ie Shining Force 2) and many games were really overshadowed by Sonic. True sport games had a field day on the Megadrive, the Shining series had some gems and the Phantasy Star’s importance as a pioneering RPG series can never be overlooked but beyond Sonic, one would struggle to come up with an equally important IP – whereas Nintendo had how many? Three? Five?

But in the terms of building a lasting impression, the Megadrive is in a class of it’s own. It’s arrival opened my eyes to the world of gaming: I discovered there was a world waiting for me and I charged right in: I read the CVG magazines my brother collected. I sought out the NES and the Master System. I became aware of Sonic’s intent to usurp the throne of some guy called Mario. I talked games with my classmates and built up bonds through common interests. I began to grow excited of the game that resided in the arcade machine. I built up an ear to the ground and grew excited about the hype machine (the arrival of Streetfighter 2 to home computers and the afore-mentioned arrival of Tails being two such examples). The wall may have been chipped previously, but this was a breakthrough. And it all came in the form of Sega’ s little black box.

SNES
Having spent the previous paragraphs gushing about the Megadrive it’s fair to say that I spent the fourth console generation as a Sega fanboy. So is there anything I can say about the other camp? Why yes there is.

I recall the SNES being really popular in it’s day: Even to the point when the Nintendo fans recovered ground lost by the Megadrive and, as before, outnumbering us Sega fans. But it was not without good reason. Now whilst I had a lot of focus towards the Megadrive, I will admit there some instances of the some Nintendo games slipping through the cracks. Through visiting friends at the time, I remember quite a bit: Getting my claws on Super Mario World and being impressed by how the familiar can be revamped quite dramatically, Playing Yoshi’s Island and thinking how the bizarre can actually come across as something very enjoyable, plunging headlong into the world that was Super Metroid and being very impressed with Donkey Kong Country.



But my own experiences with the SNES really come in two halves: With my childhood years and with my adult years. As described in the previous paragraph the childhood years were nothing more than flirtations but come my adult years, it was something completely different.
You see, it’s only in past few years that I started playing SNES games again – thus heralding the end of many years of wandering in the wilderness. In that period, I set about rediscovering the type of stuff that my comrades were doing years before. I hunted down many games that escaped my notice the first time and, needless to say, I found them very enjoyable. Even now it does indeed blow my mind that a game I noticed when I was a child could still work for me as an adult.

In fact, this perception of the SNES is an interesting counterpoint to the Megadrive: Whereas I can easily find a lot of things with Megadrive games that have been dated in the years since, this does not to be the case with the SNES library. I have played and enjoyed the likes of Super Mario World, Legend of Zelda Link to the Past, Secret of Mana, Actraiser, Terranigma, Super Metroid, Final Fantasy 4 & 6 and, of course, Chrono Trigger. All of which hold up remarkably well in this age of hi-def graphics. An obvious point would be the high quality game play the game is built around has outlasted many of trends that has come since the game’s initial release but the same could be said at an aesthetic level: Many of the SNES game are still as beautiful to look at now as the day they were released. I’m still impressed by how much detail can be squeezed out of such graphical limitations. And many of the music in games still hold up – and it seems that, through the presence of orchestral arrangements and remixes, many will agree with me. I love the Final Fantasy music (who doesn’t?), I rate the Secret of Mana very highly, and I think some of Link to the Past music outdoes many of the successive Legend of Zelda games.
Indeed, it’s fair to say that many games on the SNES have withstood the test of time very well – in fact, it makes one wonder whether the games we’re playing now will have similarly staying power ten years from now…
But one must take the good with the bad and in the SNES’ case I can see a problem: If the NES was something of a franchise starter, then the SNES is where the franchises took root. And to does raise the problem in that everyone was playing the same damn thing – even to the expense of the other titles. Granted it’s because the games were great but even now, you ask someone which was the best game on the SNES and they reply with the usual suspects: Super Mario World, Link to the Past, Super Metroid, Secret of Mana, Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 6 (even as I type this I can see myself repeating myself and it’s damn depressing). Indeed, if you challenge anyone to name the best game on the SNES without mentioning those made by Nintendo or Square and they’ll struggle to say the least. Indeed, it’s this sense of entrenchment that may be costing Nintendo even now….

But criticism aside, the SNES was indeed one of the finest consoles ever made, blessed with superb titles and technological prowess. It represents for me staying power in games and a shining example of how something can last, and keep calling me back, years later. It’s a bastion still standing no matter what time, age and technological developments can throw against it.

Phew, what a mammoth post. No matter: I had a lot to say and I'm glad to have it said. See you this time next time next week for a shock to the system....

Degeneration (no.3)

And here we are with the second instalment of this series. So let’s not dilly-dally. Here we go with the 3rd generation!

Master System
They say that when you always remember when you discover something new for the first time: It’s the one that leaves the greatest impression and influences your line of thinking from that point on. Which brings me to the Sega Master System.



Whilst this wasn’t that big a deal in the US or Japan (ie the places the matter), the plucky MS was actually quite popular in Europe and here in Australia. I first became aware of Sega during Primary school where many people had a Master System.
In fact, in retrospect, I think I knew more people with a Master System than people with a NES.
So what did the Master System do to win me over? I guess many of the reasons can only be attributed a childlike wonder of discovering something new: Colourful graphics, irritatingly catchy tunes and finding something that appeared to be world apart from what I was familiar with (which was the Commodore 64).
Some particular favourites in this era included The Ninja, Alex Kidd in Miracle World and Wonderboy. I was also impressed by how Sonic made the transition from the Megadrive and still came out great. And special mention must also go to Mortal Kombat – how they managed to replicate those graphics in an 8-bit system still blows my mind today.
Looking back however, there are more than few things wrong with the damn thing. Sure many of the games looked nice but they were plagued with wonky controls that sent your guy running in all directions, playing areas where everything therein could kill you and situations that insisted you memorise a pattern that had to be obeyed to the letter in order to get anywhere! With such poor designing in the games, it is little wonder that the NES outpaced the Master System with games and developers.
Still, in spite of my criticisms, the Master System played it’s part in furthering my interest in games. And that’s a worthy achievement in my book.

NES
Now you’re talking.
Again, this wasn’t a console I owned – but I still got to play it through a friend of my brother. Indeed, this is of particular interest: Whilst the Atari 2600 was confined to school and the Master System was owned by friends (and thus even further out of reach), the NES represented something of a breakthrough. Finally those fabled boxes had arrived in my house. They were hooked up to my TV and infiltrated their way into familiarity. And finally I had the chance to try these videogame consoles for real (or whatever you want to call it).



Whilst the memories of the Master System may be hazy and somewhat confused with youthful excitement, the games I played on the NES are far more ingrained in my mind. Compared to the Master System I can proudly point out the games I played: Super Mario Bros, Super Mario 3, Captain Skyhawk, Star Wars and TMNT.
Whilst the Master System got to me first, the NES however had a substantial selection of games – and the funny thing is I still play of some of them today. I guess most of it comes down to smart design – and now that I think about it, that’s most likely what I got the most out of the NES. True the Master System may have won me over on a stylish level but the NES proved what can be achieved with a little bit of substance. Indeed, if I’m still playing 8-bit games today then that says a lot about the staying power of them. In fact it makes me wonder if any games made today will still be played twenty five years from now….
Another of the more lasting impressions of the NES was being something of a franchise starter: Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid all had their humble beginnings here. Looking back I didn’t think much of serials: I was happy to enjoy games on both the Master System and NES, caring little of actual names. I didn't think that Mario and Zelda were big deals (like they were in the US or Japan) I just figured they were there and there were Nintendo - although being in a truly awful cartoon didn't really help their cause at all.
Funny thing was, many of the titles I mentioned above went on to become legends whilst many of the Master System games now look largely (and painfully) generic. In any case, the foundation stones were set for a survival of the fittest that even Darwin couldn’t comprehend. True the NES may have had it’s fair share of ‘generic’ games but I guess they’re easy to ignore on a system that became the birthplace for Mario/Link/Samus/Snake.
Can’t really think of much else to say. Much has been written about the NES and its importance to video game history so my own recollections and experiences may just well be enough.

That’s it for this week. Stay tuned for the next generation and a breakthrough of massive proportions….

There can only be one

Last week, I posted a rant on the absurdity of tribes in gaming. Personally I find it silly. I enjoy games the console can have and feel, in some cases, dismissing one console altogether can result in the sod missing out on something substantial completely.

All in all, there is no reason for the 'tribal' element to exist. Yet in retrospect, I can, however reluctantly, see one thing this tribal sense has going for it:

A sense of focus.

True people with two or more consoles is becoming increasingly commonplace but it does raise some questions:
Firstly, where does one get the money to get consoles? Consoles aren't cheap, accessorises and games don't come easily and even buying a decent TV still burns a hole in one's wallet. Having lived in the real world and knowing what it's like paying bills and rent, I know for a fact that a couple of hundred bucks isn't something that can be simply thrown away.
No matter what the generation, games will continue to be costly affairs - If I remember correctly twenty years ago certain Megadrive/SNES games cost the same as top of the line 360 games do today. The only difference is, back then it was the children pestering their parents for this gear. Now, those children have become adults and are paying for it with their own money (or even buying for their own children). Ultimately it is those former children who are now facing what they put their parents through.

Secondly, where does one get the time to play these games? Having a large collection of games may look impressive but how many of them have actually been beaten by the player? Granted, games is a luxury item (as described above) and one must contend with other important things like work, family and maintaining a healthy social life. Sure it can be done but given time, one may find themselves in the uncomfortable position of having far too many games left unbeaten. By having a small number of games, one can realistic arrange their time accordingly - I mean what's the point of having a large of number of games when really you're only playing a small number of them? (particularly in this achievement-based era of gaming we find ourselves in?)

So in the end, these Nintendo/Microsoft/Sony loyalties do seem pretty pointless on paper but if it has persisted for years, since the days of Sonic's Megadrive heyday, then it must've for a damn good reason.
But I'm not bothered. True I have blown a lot of money on games - and half of which are going unplayed on my Virtual Console but I chose the games not the system. I chose games I thought were interesting and/or was unable to play them in their respective generations.
And for that reason alone, I feel no shame or any regrets with this decision.

Thank you and good night

Choose your tribe

Tribes - are they still prominent within gaming circles?

Being a child of the eighties I can remember quite vividly growing up in the early-to mid nineties. This period is often looked fondly by gamers as The Golden Age of 16 bit gaming. And one of the key elements of that period was the rivalry between the big two: Sega and Nintendo. And as such, one had to pick one side, stick with it and keep defending it no matter how much crap comes from people telling you otherwise.
Of course, now it's changed. Now it's a three way race: Sega has fallen and Sony and Microsoft have stepped into challenge the almighty Nintendo.

So what I want to know is does the rivalry that happened back in the nineties still persisting.
And if so, is it still as intense as it used to be?

I really found the passion of these console debates rather puzzling. I mean, back in the day I played both Mario and Sonic and found them both great games in their own right. I swore allegiance to no console (and still do) favoring the games instead. Thus it is indeed peculiar that the way some fans react. Particularly the Nintendo mob who laughed at Sega fans and treat the Sony fans with the same venom usually reserved for some scum who sleeps with one's wife.



One compelling argument is that when you're a child, your parents can only afford to buy one console. Thus it is a challenge in order not to pick the wrong one. But that argument doesn't really have weight - at least from my perspective because I'm an adult and, like most gaming veterans from the Golden Age, I have the money to obtain more than one console. Thus I have a PS2, a Dreamcast, a 360 and a Wii. But again there is no loyalty - because the games rule.

I can understand a human need to find people with similar interests and band together in groups but the same thing is happening is more war-torn regions in the world today. Conflicts that make these console debates feeble in comparison, dealing with race, territory and an inability to co-exist
Compared to the console debates which are ultimately based on forms of entertainment.

I honestly feel that loyalties can have a drastic effect on gaming in general. Some people may refuse to play anything but the games on their console of choice but in some cases they may be missing out on something good. After all, that goes against something that drives any game: Exploration It is this single drive that makes people pick up games. It makes us keep coming back. It makes us go hunting down everything from every last corner in the game. It makes us to invest so many hours into a game itself. Thus, shunning a system really goes against one of the foundation stones of gaming: Both as a game and a gamer.
I liked the Sonic games, in their heyday, but I wonder how many Nintendo fans overlooked it in passionate (and ultimately futile) disgust. They were great games and at least worth a look. And indeed, I still think it's a delightful irony that the Megadrive Sonic games are now accessible on the Wii Virtual Console.

So to summarize, loyalties may exist but I don't care. I'm only interested in the games.
As we all should.