Retro Drive...

[Commander Marklar]

Super Fami-version? You mean NTSC-J, right? What's different about it? I don't remember, tbh. I imported it aeons ago and got through it alright. Let me know!

(btw, I always thought Actraiser was piss easy anyway, but there you go).

edit: You talking about 'hard' mode? That's just the platforming sections, iirc.

There's nowt wrong with Actraiser 2 either, I thought it was OK. The sim-mode from the original is hardly a challenge, just an decent story. It IS a shame they dropped it. It ain't like the platforming is that great though, not compared to some other titles of the same genre (e.g. Rastan, off the top of my head). I'd say A2 improved the platforming somewhat, but in doing so showed up the game as being a sub-par platformer.

[Commander Marklar]

Continuing Actraiser then (just me? , I head into BLOODPOOL...




Nice place... the area is covered in marsh land, sunlight (one of my many powers as a god) is needed to dry 'em all up. Oh, and the local lake is poisoned >_<

Ho hum, so I quickly clean up and everyone is happy. Here, I get another spell for use in the action stage. It causes many shooting stars to rain down from above, does loads of damage. I also get given this skull, discovered by some local lad (Teddy), which will destroy a monster lair. To be used where the locals can't get too...



...joy, you can use boats and stuff...



...and just hope along and sacrifice yourself at the local evil castle >_<

Time to kick off...



Sir marklar saves the day, again! At this point, the boss (well easy) turns into a wolf and dives about a bit, but I can just stand there and use my shooting star bollocks which finishes him off nicely ^_^

Only now, you'd have thought everyone would be nice and happy? No... they're all fighting and worn out, I need something to calm their souls....

More tomorrow!

[mezzanine]

Nice screenshots, I like the look of the stage with the moon in the background. Didn't get a chance to play the game yesterday, but I'll make sure I do later tonight. Is the music still good or is it a bit dated now?

[Commander Marklar]

Yea man, it's still alright. Not as epic as some other SNES games, mind. Mostly 'cos I don't think the instruments sound as natural as some other 'classical' soundtracks.

[Tychom]

So, Commander, can you give us some info on Actraiser, a mini 'why we should play it' or something. I missed out on it way back so never quite knew what was so hot about it.

I've a lovely SFC copy (just..because) that I should really be playing I guess, but I've never gotten past the first level and honestly it seems pretty...crap, the platforming and the fighting that is. What are the strategy sections like, any serious strategy involved at all? or is it just a world map a la Super Mario World. And do the platforming sections get better, cos as I said, level 1 is...crap.

I guess is it rewarding or just pretty standard is what I'm a wondering.

[Strider]

I've just started to clear Blood Pool, so you're in the lead by th elooks of it

[Leon Retro]

Actraiser was a launch title and therefore it didn't push the system 100%. What it did do though was impress in every way. The opening score will always be remembered as a classic example of what the snes could produce and the game goes on to be filled with great trumpeting bassy and catchy tunes.

The opening level with it's populous like management looks simple and is basic, but it also has charm and is simply a doorway to the real game. The actual game is far more than the sum of its parts, everything works together to make an intriguing experience. The opening level is a mere taste of what?s to come, and at the time even this opening level had the wow factor. As the levels progress and become more complex, the impressive and distinctive design shines through. With many unforgettable boss encounters and varied levels enhanced by the upbeat powerful music, the game really forges a place in the player?s heart.

The game will obviously not appeal to everyone, and it is a fairly simple and easy affair. After all these years though, returning to it brings back all the feelings of why the game was so well though of; it is simply uniquely captivating.

[Commander Marklar]

D'oh, didn't get to play last night. Gives Strider a chance to catch up, heh

Anyway, Tychom, to be brutally honest? It's one of those games that was easily better at the time. The platforming is fairly sub-par and the sim-mode isn't really that sim, there is little control over what you're doing as it is up to the people to decide. You're just directing them along a set path, I suppose. However, like kingston lj put it, the game is more than the sum of its parts, with a pretty decent story (with a good, overall moral to it) used as a vehicle to push the player forward, liberating the planet from the demons. There are some brilliant boss fights later in the game and the action is always thick and fast.

Don't judge it on the first level, designed to introduce the player into the game. I wonder if you played it through to be honest, as you're thrown straight into the sim section so you would have had a chance to experience the sim-mode first hand. Sure you're not just trolling?

[Tychom]

nah, all honest questions. I did buy it with the intention of playing it through, I just havent had it click yet is all

[Commander Marklar]

yea, might take a while. i have the benefit of nostalga. i'd say it gets more interesting when you have a larger area to build with, from the 3rd area onwards.

[Commander Marklar]

Balls

[Commander Marklar]

Another two areas completed...



These are fairly easy.overall. Kasandora features a large desert area cleared by raining on the sandy areas. It also feature a discovery, called "music". You can take this and sooth them souls over in Bloodpool.

Dead easy boss, just stand there and use the star magic, heh...



Once dead, people start dropping dead from some plague or other. I need some herbal medicine to help 'em out.....

Aitos is a small area, covered in debris and trees (lighting). First boss can't hit you if you stand here:



While small, the Angel has a lot of work in sim-mode 'cos of the new bad guy featured:



They rock, heh. And when it rains, it literally purs (molten rock)...



Off to kill the boss, in 12 seconds



That's me done for tonight.

[Commander Marklar]

More, and I've one area left before the big showdown...

[mezzanine]

This thread should turn into a 'retro game of the month' sticky. Or in your case a 'retro game of the week' Marklar with the way you're blitzing through Actraiser.

I'm still at Bloodpool

[Commander Marklar]

I'm not looking forward to the end boss battles actually, 'cos I've been cheating by using the star magic. All very well when you have just one to contend with but the harder boss patterns, coupled with the continued fight (and no magic replenishment, iirc) means I'm gonna have to learn the patterns properly That said, the big-falling-boss-when-you-run-underneath is used too often in Actraiser so I should be alright with a the lives I have.

I wouldn't mind a "Retro game of the month" kind of thread. There'd be no obligation to play through the title but it'd 'cos some retro-love, which is all good.