TTI - USA - 1993
Super CD
What a travesty. In some ways this version is superior to the original, but in the important areas it's a complete train wreck. The good points; the graphics are very nice-- the cinemas aren't technically the greatest but they at least add a halfway interesting story to give you some motivation to continue-- and the music is alright. Now for the bad! The first and most annoying thing about this version is that you have to beat every dungeon in one sitting. That's not a big deal on the first couple, but on the last 5 if you don't have at least 2-3 hours to set aside for gaming, don't even bother playing. This wouldn't be SO bad if the game was more straight-forward and revolved mostly around fighting, but Dungeon Master is 50/50 fighting and puzzle solving. So what happens if you get stuck on some stupid pressure plate puzzle and need to take a break? Tough shit! Turn your Duo off and you have to start completely from scratch in that dungeon. No midpoint saves, no exiting the dungeons and saving, nothing.
The second thing that is ultra annoying is that you don't get to keep anything you find in the dungeons. In this sense it's almost like a rogue game in that you start from square one in each dungeon, even having to re-pick your companions from the measly amount they give you to choose from (I think it's around 7, but I can't remember exactly). It completely ruins the fun. I mean what's the point of spending an hour on a puzzle and finding that SWEET piece of armor if you're just going to lose it when you beat the dungeon?
The last thing that sucks (that I will bother listing, not the last thing that sucks about the game) is how after you find the artifact you need you have to find your way back out of the dungeon-- an example of artificial lengthening at its finest! No new puzzles or anything, just a boring trek back through places you've already been with maybe a couple monsters to harass you.
Genesis game that is better than this game rating- Might & Magic Gates to Another World
GAME REVIEWS
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Deep Blue
PACK-IN-VIDEO - 1989 - U.S.A.
An underwater shooter that has a bad reputation, probably because it is too hard for most players. Speaking as someone who has cleared the game-- it's not bad. It is difficult, but don't fault the game if your playing isn't up to snuff. Deep Blue actually sports some really nice underwater visuals, especially for a 1989 release. The scenery has different layers of scrolling that while technically is pretty simple is used well to create a real feeling of depth, and some stages (especially 2 and 4) are just beautiful. One area Deep Blue really shines is the enemy design; the screens shown here don't even scratch the surface of the plethora of different foe you will encounter.
Deep Blue is especially tough because it is extremely hard to avoid getting hit most of the time, and when you do, your weapon downgrades one level. You can pick up powerups for different weapons, but the arsenal is limited. The swirl cutter weapon is the best, especially if you power it up a couple levels. You only have one life, but you have a life meter that slowly depletes as you get hit. If you avoid getting hit, it will gradually replenish itself. I like this, it's a fresh change from the tired traditions of most other shooters. The music is hit and miss. Every stage starts with a unique theme song but then when you reach the middle of a stage instead of a mid-boss, the music changes to a frantic number and you find yourself in a frenzy of oncoming foe. This frantic tune can be a little grating but most of the actual level themes are pretty pleasant and atmospheric. Overall, not a perfect game by any means, but a fun one nonetheless that doesn't deserve it's bad reputation. A must-try for hardcore shooter fanatics.
HuCard
An underwater shooter that has a bad reputation, probably because it is too hard for most players. Speaking as someone who has cleared the game-- it's not bad. It is difficult, but don't fault the game if your playing isn't up to snuff. Deep Blue actually sports some really nice underwater visuals, especially for a 1989 release. The scenery has different layers of scrolling that while technically is pretty simple is used well to create a real feeling of depth, and some stages (especially 2 and 4) are just beautiful. One area Deep Blue really shines is the enemy design; the screens shown here don't even scratch the surface of the plethora of different foe you will encounter.
Deep Blue is especially tough because it is extremely hard to avoid getting hit most of the time, and when you do, your weapon downgrades one level. You can pick up powerups for different weapons, but the arsenal is limited. The swirl cutter weapon is the best, especially if you power it up a couple levels. You only have one life, but you have a life meter that slowly depletes as you get hit. If you avoid getting hit, it will gradually replenish itself. I like this, it's a fresh change from the tired traditions of most other shooters. The music is hit and miss. Every stage starts with a unique theme song but then when you reach the middle of a stage instead of a mid-boss, the music changes to a frantic number and you find yourself in a frenzy of oncoming foe. This frantic tune can be a little grating but most of the actual level themes are pretty pleasant and atmospheric. Overall, not a perfect game by any means, but a fun one nonetheless that doesn't deserve it's bad reputation. A must-try for hardcore shooter fanatics.
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