Steam Quickies #2

World of Diving

Vertigo Games

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vertigo does an exceptional job simulating the diving experience with or without the Oculus VR enhancement. It may even be too realistic; I looked forward to exploring a seemingly endless ocean floor like in Ecco the Dolphin or Treasures of the Deep to a lesser extent, but World of Diving offers a more organized, site-specific experience. With only a few maps to explore at this point, this will be another test for the Early Access development machine.

Race the Sun

Flippfly LLC

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's not just any endless runner featuring procedural generation, it's the best looking one. Race the Sun is sure to captivate the minimalist genre's die-hard players, but the rest will move on quickly after its cosmetic appeal subsides.

A Return to the Golden Age

Double Dragon Trilogy

Dot Emu (originally Technos Japan)

Steam (2015, originally 1987-1990)
_________________________________________________________________________________

If you're an avid player of the brawler genre (yes, we still exist) Double Dragon Trilogy is a no-brainer. For $5.99, young gamers can also now experience the history of the virtual mean streets during the late 1980's. The old school can even meet the new school online for cooperative play. What else do you need?

Not much. Double Dragon was never complicated: street punks kidnap girlfriend, must get girlfriend back. This simple premise was flawlessly presented with no dialogue at the start of the original in a matter of seconds. Ass-kicking ensues thereafter.

There’s been plenty of sequels, remakes, and reworks over the years, and none of them were too shabby (save for the terrible one-on-one fighting entry that was Double Dragon V). With Trilogy, you should expect more arcade faithful versions of the original three, rather than the fondly remembered and popular NES ports. I’m sure we can all agree that Double Dragon II for NES is the superior version, but the original was a great game in its own right.

The very best in the series, Double Dragon Advance, incorporated skills from previous entries like the headbutt, spinkick, hyper knee and uppercut, mount, stomp, wall jump, grab, and parry to name a few. These powers complimented each other for a furious festival of flowing fists and feet. You won’t find such a diverse arsenal of moves in Trilogy- only the simplistic fighting styles that graced arcades back in the golden age.

That being said, don't assume the most recently released homage, Double Dragon Neon, is the superlative entry. While it did wield an impressive move list and an insider's nostalgia, it never felt quite like a Technos game. For those looking for the genuine experience starring their beloved super-deformed characters and pick-up-and-play controls, Trilogy is the way to go, even if the platforming has aged beyond rationality by today's standards.

Back to Basics

Dragon Quest

Square Enix

iOS (2014, originally 1986)
___________________________________________________________________________________

I wouldn't be able to discuss this game without bias, being that I was one of those kids in 1990 who got a free copy with a subscription to Nintendo Power magazine. I had to use every one of the tips from the various inserts and booklets to wrap my head around this strange new genre of slow-paced tactical gameplay. At first, the RPG archetype felt like digression for settling for command lists instead of Zelda-type action.

It proved that we didn't need hack-and-slash gameplay to immerse ourselves into a role. Hauntingly hypnotic loops set the tone for a wide open world full of heroic lore, Elizabethan speak, and deeply covered secrets, and it's all presented in the quirky art style of the legendary Toriyama. 

I remember searching the ground looking for the flute, carrying the princess in my arms, and walking around on the southeastern island for hours grinding Gold Men...

Are you wondering if this ancient relic of an RPG has stood the test of time and deemed itself worthy of another release in the states? It will depend on your perspective. I'm personally a fan of the game, the series, and the genre it defined, so my critiques are simply picking nits about new translations in the nostalgic material. A slime doesn't appear. It draws near! That's not a she-slime, it's just red.

A legitimate gripe would involve the blatant dumbing down of secrets. Items that required searching now shine like a star. With all the information readily available today, the last thing people need is hand-holding. 

Some players criticize the original in retrospect for having a one-on-one battle system. I have always admired it for that simplicity. Battles are quick, making the grind easy. Just don't walk around the wrong part of town too soon.

Unfamiliar audiences who are willing to try RPG's would probably do best to start here. It's rapidly paced, only a few hours long, and fitted with quick-save functions to make it accessible for even the most casual of players.

Another Another World Port

Another World: 20th Anniversary Edition
Delphine Software

(2014, originally 1991)

_____________________________________________________________________

You need this game. Not only is it one of the greatest video games ever made, but it's also one of the best pieces of science fiction available in any format.

1992: I stayed home sick from school and asked my dad to rent Street Fighter II or Lost Vikings or something else I had already played a million times. He came home with Out of This World. I was not pleased, but was about to learn that I shouldn't have judged this epic masterpiece by its terrible cover art.

I would like to thank my dad for bestowing the experience upon me that day. I would like to thank Eric Chahi for single-handedly raising my critical bar for video games and sci-fi alike for years still to come.

Steam Quickies #1

Paragon
Meteoric Games

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paragon is a would-be-awesome space simulator rendered unplayable by game-breaking bugs around every corner of the universe. To be fair, the game is still considered "early access". Not to be fair, it costs 15 bucks.

OlliOlli
Roll7

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Initially, OlliOlli appears to be another running game like Canabalt with a skateboarding gimmick. Nevertheless, it turns out to be a fun little ride while it lasts. It lacks the diversity of Skate or Die and the fluidity of Thrilla's Surfari, and most virtual skaters won't bother to figuratively catch 'em all like they would in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater or Skate, because ultimately it does feel more like a running game successor than a skateboarding game.

EGM The Greatest 200 Games of Their Time 2006

Disclaimer: The purpose of this post is to preserve history. ZBR Streetgang is not affiliated with Electronic Gaming Monthly and did not contribute to this article. If for any reason this post needs to be removed, please contact the poster and it will be done as soon as possible.

Enjoy.

EGM 100 Best Games Ever 2002

Disclaimer: The purpose of this post is to preserve history. ZBR Streetgang is not affiliated with Electronic Gaming Monthly and did not contribute to this article. If for any reason this post needs to be removed, please contact the poster and it will be done as soon as possible.

Enjoy.