Top Ten 1-on-1 Beat ’em Up Blog VS

Tags

1-on-1 fighters, Beat 'em ups, Mortal Kombat, Soul Calibur, Steet Fighter, Tekken, Virtua Fighter

Now the fight is really on. Anton and I have been joined by Paul and we will reveal our top 10 1-on-1 beat ’em up games. Not scrolling brawlers like Double Dragon, Final Fight, or Golden Axe … that list might be next 🙂

Again, this isn’t a “best” list, but one of favourites.
OK, LET’S ROCK..

Dave’s TOP TEN 1-on-1 BEAT ‘EM UPS

(1) Way of the Exploding Fist (Sinclair Spectrum, 48k, tape).
This was the first ever fighting game I played. For that reason alone it had to feature somewhere. Because I loved it so, and it was the reason (several times) for me returning late home to a parental scolding, it gets the top spot. It is slow, with pretty much black and white outline sprites, but it has plenty of moves and absolute skill is required to win. Practice is rewarded. A real gem, and at the time of release unlike anything else I knew of.

(2) International Karate Plus (C64, tape).
This was an update to International Karate, which was a good “clone” of the above game. This though, was 1-on-1-on-1, but it really plays like a normal 1-on-1 game. In single player mode you fought against 2 guys, and in 2-player mode there was always a computer controlled chap. You had 30 seconds to score 1 or 2 points for hits, which always knocked down your opponent briefly. 6 points won you the round directly – or if time ran out, proving you weren’t last, you stayed in. And it was FAST. Really fast. And it had one of Rob Hubbard’s most loved tunes. Actually, click that link and listen while you read the rest of my filth. Aged 15, I played this game before each of my GCSE exams as a form of stress relief. Or maybe I didn’t like revision that much.

(3) Street Fighter II (SFC, cart).
There was a moment when I first saw this in the arcade. I lost a few coins, I had a good time. I wanted more, but was a bit worried there wasn’t really enough game content to warrant a costly import. I was spectacularly wrong – and delighted. My mate had it on his SFC (Jap SNES) and it was on that fine machine that all the subtleties of this truly great fighter slowly dawned on me. Playing on hardest (level 8) it would take hours and I’d use 100+ continues completing it. That count slowly came down. In truth this game is a lot better than the two above, but without the two above I may not have wanted to play this one quite as much. This game was also responsible for my finest ever spending of 20p. At the arcade of Leicester Polytechnic (now De Montfort University) I put 20p into the machine, I fought of 3 or 4 human players and went on to beat the game. That remains the only arcade I have ever 1CC’d.

(4) Street Fighter IV (PS3, blu-ray).
I was quite excited when I first saw the screen shots. Obviously I loved SF2 and I have enjoyed SF3 and many of the in-between games. This edition though could so easily have been butchered and fouled up. It wasn’t. Not one bit. The 2D gameplay remained, only it was slightly faster. Everything I wanted to kept was, and all the new bits were fine. Beating up a Frenchman online was beautiful. Proof that new games can be as awesome as retro ones. Something that doesn’t always appear possible. Thank you, Capcom, for this wonderful update.

(5) Dead or Alive 2 (Dreamcast, Gd-Rom).
Kasumi is almost solely responsible for me giving 3D a chance. 2 reasons. Yup, you guessed it – her nice big eyes. I have always resisted 3D fighters, but this one had two other things going for it as well: firstly it looked gorgeous, and secondly it was a hell of a lot of fun. I loved the way the moves follow each other as you pummel away on opponents, I adore the multi-level stages as players crash through wall, off bridges etc. Sometimes I had no idea what I was doing, but there is a deceptive amount of depth to the fighting in this game. Counters, throws, and attacks all have advantages over each other. If you’ve never tried it, I can’t recommend it enough — just stay away from the Volleyball games, please!!!

(6) King of Fighters ’99 (NeoGeo AES).
The thing about King of Fighters series being so vast is that, in a list like this, the possibility for a single title to stand out is reduced. I have gone for this version because it was the first BIG, memory wise, NeoGeo AES game I was able to purchase (I think it was £80 on eBay). The whole KoF series is not about glitz, glamour, or gimmick. What you do get is one of the very tightest fighting models anywhere. Practice is rewarded, and a good understand of when and how to use the moves and special moves is essential. A wonderful series that quietly demands your full attention.

(7) Soul Calibur (Dreamcast, Gd-Rom).
My 2nd 3D entry. And it just gets in. I want to leave it out simply because so many people over-hype it. But I can’t, when I had the DC version I went through all the mission levels (so much more fun than the most modern tutorials) and developed a better understanding of the game. This resulted in much more enjoyment, though I confess I have forgotten all the subtleties I once learned 😦

(8) Waku Waku 7 (Sega Saturn, Cd-Rom).
For madness alone, this is a must. you cannot help but show anyone new to Japanese gaming a fine example of their creative mentalness. It plays in a similar vein to other SNK fighters but the characters are plain bonkers. On top of superb two-player madcap fun, the one player game is a solid one. So great that this game is available on the Saturn because the NeoGeo AES version is way too expensive!

(9) Street Fighter Alpha 3 (GBA micro, cart).
Never would I have expected to get such a beast of a game so perfectly ported to such a small device. Paired up with a GBA Micro you have a spectacular rendition of one of the best fighting games in history that fits into the very smallest of pockets. Thy really did a fine job here – this is by some distance the best pocket fighter, that way it can’t be compared to the PSP version 😉

(10) Mortal Kombat (Intel 486 PC, seriously!)
I never wanted to like Mortal Kombat. I didn’t like its digitised graphical style and it wasn’t Japanese. By my mate had it on his PC, and other mates kept playing it, so I was “forced” to join in. After a while I had to admit the fighting mechanic was decent and the game was fun. I even started to like Sonya Blade. And yes, the newer MK games might be better, but this was the most important to me; without it, I wouldn’t own any of the others.

Surprising omission: Virtua Fighter.
It is surprising for me because I am a SEGA fan-boy, but I was hugely resistant to 3D fighters early on. I found them awkward and relied too heavily on vast numbers of moves that need to me memorised, as opposed to a lesser number of techniques to be understood. Basically, I didn’t like losing 😉

Other Kicking Fighters:
There are many other fighter I own and want to play enough so that they stood a better chance of making this list: Ninku (Sat), Arcana Heart 3 (360), Astra Superstars (Sat), Sonic Council (Sat), Mortal Kombat DC Universe (360), Rival Schools 2 (PS), Gal Fighters (NGPC), Guilty Gear Petit (NGPC), Golden Axe the Duel (Sat), Tatsunoko vs Capcom (Wii), Cyberbots (Sat), Battle Fantasia (360), Blaz Blue (PS3), Guilty Gear (PS1), World Heroes Perfect (Sat), Last Blade (DC), Samuari Shodown (NeoGeo), Capcom vs SNK (DC), Capcom Fighting Jam (PS2), Street Fighter III (DC), Street Fighter Zero (Sat), Any of KoF (NeoGeo), Yu Yu Hakusho (MD), Bleach: Heat the Soul II (PSP), Darkstalkers (PSP), Matrimellee (NeoGeo), Groove On Fight (Sat).

Now you’ve done that, please check Paul’s and Anton’s blogs.
By the end of it all, you may consider yourself knowledgeable.

There and Back Again – ‘Tween Triumph and Disaster

There and Back Again – ‘Tween Triumph and Disaster

England have a deserving lead of 2-1 in this exciting test series. It has not panned out like most reasoned spectators would have figured. Many expected slow games, a few draws, and India to win 1-0. After the first test, it appeared this could happen or, for the tourists, it could be a whole lot worse. England could not play spin and they could not bowl sides out on flat tracks; the same old stories.

Two weeks later, the Indians are in total despair and the English are euphoric. The fact is, that if India bowl well, and England have another of their well-famed batting collapses, the series will end at two games each.

My point is a simple one. Let us keep our heads a little and enjoy this contest for what it is. Two good sides that are each capable of beating the other, and handsomely when things go well. We do not need to overstate England’s wins any more than we need to lament India’s losses. In the wider picture, India’s batting is deep into a period of transition. The old guard are gone – some literally, others figuratively. The youth can be inspirational, but seldom consistent. Enjoy the success of Pujara, be patient with the sublime talent of Kohli, debate the effectiveness of Dhoni and enjoy the all-round grit and skill of Ashwin. Above all, try to enjoy the cricket, for both teams will have good times and bad – hopefully not too long between each one; for without the bad, the good is harder to appreciate.

Two sections of Rudyard Kipling’s timeless “If” explain it better than I ever could…

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;

The full poem: http://www.kipling.org.uk/poems_if.htm

PS: We should also be VERY happy there have been 3 results out of 3,
thus far, and a 4th result looks likely! Less than 24 hours to go 🙂

The Mosconi Cup – Cue Sport’s Hidden Gem

Tags

9-Ball, Darren Appleton, Earl the Pearl, Golf, Mosconi Cup, Ralf Souquet, Ryder Cup, Snooker

The Mosconi Cup –
Cue Sport’s Hidden Gem

I do not enjoy golf, for me it is a good walk ruined, but even I can freely admit that the Ryder Cup is a phenomenally intense and exhilarating event. The format of the Mosconi Cup is a similar one. For a start it is Europe vs America (and all classic rivalries provide an additional edge in sporting encounters), and secondly, the action is spread over a few days and it naturally, rapidly, builds to a perfect climax.

The Mosconi Cup lasts for four days, and on each day 5 or 6 points are available. Each point is won in a first to 5 frames race. There are doubles, singles, and whole team battles. Each team has a captain who can make tactical selections when the opportunity arises.

The sport is 9-ball – American, pool.
The basic rules of which are simple:
(1) Hit the lowest (numerically numbered) ball first.
(2) Repeat until the 9-ball (numbered ‘9’) is potted.
(3) After contact, a ball must hit a cushion (or pocket).
(4) Fouls result in “ball-in-hand” – place the ball anywhere.

It is reputedly the fastest growing cue sport in the world. At a casual level it is a great leveller, meaning it is easier for a novice to beat an average player than it is, for example, in snooker. At profession level, with huge pockets, and a nap-free cloth, it comes down to pressure – and watching the players handle it is great fun. In a 9-ball environment the players and spectators are a lot more lively than at any other cue-sport I have seen.

I cannot recommend the event, or the sport, highly enough. Even if you’re merely curious or uncertain, give it a go. It is easier to enjoy than you might expect it to be.

A link to coverage via Sky TV’s guide, but not sure how future-proof it’ll be…
http://skyplustv.sky.com/tv-guide#/programme/detail/1322/754

Day one is current going poorly for Europe who are 2-0 down!
They lead both “legs” early on! My nerves are building!
Go #TeamEurope! Go #MosconiCup!

Top 10 Shmup Blog Versus

Tags

Darius, Galaga, Gradius, Gunhed, R-Type, shoot 'em ups, Smups, Thunderforce

A few days ago Anton Sombetzki (aged 29) and I (aged 39) got talking about SHMUPS … shoot ’em ups. No, not like Halo, Call of Duty, or even Doom. Old, arcade-style, traditional shoot ’em ups. You know, ones that were better than Space Invaders. Most involved scrolling, horizontal or vertical, some fancy buggers did both, and a few (firstly Zaxxon) were isometric in Viewpoint (that’s a pun for a tiny number of you).

Here I aim to lay down my own top 10, and give reasons for each choice. Anton will offer his choices too, and his half of this “blog versus” will be linked below. I expect our age difference will mean that most of my favourite games are older than his, but we shall see! The console mentioned by each game is the one I fell in love with the game on.  Oh, these are opinions – that way it is not possible for Anton, or I, to be wrong.

Dave’s Top 10 Most Loved SHMUPS

(1) R-Type (PC Engine).
I fell in love with a magazine screen shot. I then saw a game in an arcade that looked stunning. Then “R-TYPE” scrolled across the screen. I slung in all my coins and have bloody loved it ever since. Love at first sprite. And oh yes, STILL the best weapon system ever. I played it on the arcade first, but I played to DEATH on, and fell in love with, the PC Engine’s version.

(2) Thunderforce III (Megadrive).
I liked Thunderforce II a lot. But its horizontal levels were better than its odd vertical ones. Thunderforce III had only the proper horizontal type. I imported it on day of release in Japan. I played it a lot. One of the very few games I’ve 1LC’d. I still adore the music. Just a brilliant game, and because I can complete it, it gave me a satisfaction I didn’t get from R-Type! The level choice at the start helps ease you in and learn the levels in a way that more game of this ilk should have copied.

(3) Gunhed (PC Engine).
Anybody who thinks that a better vertical shooter exists is wrong. At first, I was opposed to vertical shooters. Too often one was reduced to swooping from left to right at the bottom of the screen. This proved me wrong, and right at the same time. Crazy fast paced scrolling, mega bosses, incredible weapons: everything a vertical blaster needs. A true legend among giants. The US version (Blazing Lazers) is cheap and easy to find on eBay.

(4) Galaga ’88 (PC Engine).
This is a mental game. Crazy. It looks normal but it has the heart of a drugged up box of frogs. Splendid music, manic shooting, and … “Galactic Dancing“. If you don’t know what that means, I strongly suggest buying it (it is cheap) or emulating it to find out. Galaxians was never one of my favourites in the early days – this is a mind-changer. Called Galaga ’90 in the US of A.

(5) M.U.S.H.A. Aleste (Megadrive).
Messy explosions, cracking music, big weapons, fast scrolling and lush everything. It received some criticism when it was launched. People said it wasn’t as good as Gunhed, or Thunderforce III etc. They maybe right, but it’s very VERY close behind. you don’t even have to play it to like it … that’s how good the music is. Worst thing about it is that it’s too expensive for most of us to buy 😦

(6) Twinkle Tale (Megadrive).
I discovered this gem late on, partly because it is obscure but mainly because it is so expensive. I got lucky on eBay; a copy without instructions. I rammed in the cart and loved it thereafter. Fast, hard, and mostly fair. Multi-scrolling with a few route choices, it’s a little different, but all fantastic.

(7) Elemental Master (Megadrive).
Very possible the best music on the Megadrive – utterly brilliant, substantial, fitting, storming, a nd powerful. Without such an amazing soundtrack I could have been dissuaded by the initially off-putting difficulty level. But once you “get” the game it becomes easier and much fun awaits. Truly satisfying when you complete each level.

(8) Gradius III (SFC/SNES).
I’ve always thought that the Gradius/Nemesis/Salamander series have been slightly flawed. Fully loaded, one almost feels too powerful, but once a life is lost you’re so weak it’s almost re-boot or switch off. However, I can’t deny their charm, class, and this one has top music AND it beats the actual arcade version of itself. Very few games can genuinely claim that.

(9) Darius Plus (PC Engine).
Now some of these Darius games are truly hardcore, bordering on unfair. This one, in spite of taking an AGE to get fully powered up, isn’t terribly hard at the start. The graphics and colours on the PC Engine sucked me in. I couldn’t stop. I never actually got that good at it, but I always enjoyed it. I need to play the other Darius games more. Excited to be getting Darius Force (PSP) for Christmas 🙂 I’m such a kid!

(10) Bloody Money (Amiga).
For me, this is a left-field choice.  There are some good shooters on computers, but 95% of them pale when compared to those available on consoles. This one is an odd beast, very slow, only four levels, and only music or sound effects – not both. But the intro blew me away, it was like nothing you’d ever seen at the time. Partly because of this, I played it a lot and grew to really enjoy the laid back, languid feel of the game. It won’t be everyone’s taste, and unless you have heaps of patience you won’t like it much. Some of the graphics are superb, and there are some huge sprites; it is clear that a lot of love and effort went into this game.

RANDOM LIST OF SHMUPS THAT I LOVE BUT DIDN’T QUITE MAKE IT
Tatsujin, Hybris, Armalyte, Super Star Soldier, Atomic Robo Kid, X-Multiply, Parodius, Raiden, Varth, Gunbird, Layer Section, Thunderforce IV, Thunderforce V, Thunderforce VI, Salamander, Keio’s Flying Squadron, Aero Blasters, Gaiares, Coryoon, Power Strike, Twin Cobra, Apydia, Silkworm, Viewpoint, Ghost Pilots, Aldynes.

Here is Anton’s Top 10 list:
ANTON’S TOP TEN SHOOT ‘EM UPS