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The Duck Hunter

Brett Somsen — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:42:47 +0000

Vectorman™

Brett Somsen — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:02:16 +0000

Arcade games were released in a huge variety. Sometimes two genres were combined in one arcade game. Many arcade games went on to release sequels because of the huge demand and popularity they generated. Vectorman is one such arcade game.

Vectorman™ is a series of “run and gun” platform arcade games. The first part was released in 1995. The gameplay of the series is characteristic of run and gun games: large numbers of enemies and a player character with extremely powerful weapons.

The Gameplay

The gameplay of the game involves the player controlling the character of Vectorman™, a humble robot in charge of cleaning up toxic sludge by simply discharging it into the sun, to fight against the enemy. The story of the game is set in 2049 when the human population of Earth embarks on a migratory voyage to try to colonize other planets. They leave robots to clean up the mess they made on Earth through littering and pollution. Raster, a high-level robot, is accidentally attached to a working nuclear missile and goes insane, becoming an evil dictator named Warhead. He declares himself ruler of Earth and begins preparations to execute any humans who dare return to their planet. Vectorman™ visits Earth where he finds chaos and confusion. Because all the other Robots are controlled by Warhead, Vectorman™ takes it upon himself to destroy the errant robot and restore peace to Earth.

Vectorman™ uses pre-rendered 3D models in its level and character designs. This gives the game a smooth, computer-generated feel.

Strategy

Vectorman possesses the ability to transform, through the use of power-ups, into several different forms—a drill, to cut through floors; a bomb, to destroy all surrounding enemies or breakable walls; an aquatic form, useful for swimming underwater. In addition to power-up transformations, three levels host unique morphed forms with which to combat bosses in.

Difficulty Levels

There are 16 rounds. Defeat the bosses at the end of each round to progress onto the next level.

Interface and Controls

Use the arrow keys to control Vectorman™ and a control button to fight against the enemies.

The futuristic story and graphics used in Vectorman™ make the game more interesting to play than an average arcade game.

Vanguard™

Brett Somsen — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:55:44 +0000

Anyone who has played arcade games would agree with the fact that these games provided the basic idea for all the games that are being produced nowadays. Platform games, wrestling games, vector graphic games, action games, sports games, shooting games—they had them all.

Vanguard™ is a 1981 arcade video game. The game is known as one of the first “scrolling shooters” ever made that allowed scrolling in multiple directions and the first “shoot-‘em-up” where a player can shoot in four different directions. Vanguard is also unique in the sense that the player must focus on avoiding obstacles while firing in order to survive.

The Gameplay

The gameplay of the game involves the player controlling a ship with limited amount of fuel that constantly depletes. The story of the game is that the “Gond” has been terrorizing nearby space colonies with its periodic raids of destruction. The player has been selected to pilot an advanced fighter ship with high offensive capabilities, and must enter the cave inside the asteroid where the Gond makes his home and safely fly through every zone. The player must take the Gond out and succeed in the mission.

Some zones start off primarily as a horizontal scroller, but in some zones, the ship flies vertically. Also, at the end of each zone the player must defeat a boss that is guarded by two moving force fields with holes in them. There are a total of ten zones in the game: Mountain Zone, Rainbow Zone, Styx Zone, Rainbow Zone 2, Stripe Zone, Rainbow Zone 3, Bleak Zone, and the City of Mystery / Last Zone.

Strategy

The ship can independently fire lasers in any of the four cardinal directions. By securing the energy pods, a short time of invulnerability can be obtained. This turns the ship effectively into a weapon, and the enemies change attack patterns to avoid the player. The player must constantly avoid colliding with the walls. The walls can be used defensively to avoid oncoming enemy fire.

Difficulty Levels

There are ten rounds. The player must complete each level before fuel runs out to avoid losing lives.

Interface and Controls

Use the arrow keys for navigation and the control button to perform other actions.

Vanguard™ is a very interesting game with an innovating storyline that motivates the player to keep on playing until the game is completed.

Tumblepop™

Brett Somsen — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:44:08 +0000

Platform games are the easiest video games out there. They are also very popular; almost all the arcade platform games have turned out to be highly successful. These include games such as Pac-Man™, Sonic the Hedgehog™, and who could forget the cult classic Tumblepop™?

Tumblepop™ is a platform arcade game released in 1991. The storyline of the game revolves around kids who are surrounded by a sordid cast of mutants and aliens. These kids want to get rid of these creatures and they do that by strapping vacuum cleaners to their backs and getting rid of them through the vacuum cleaners.

The Gameplay

The gameplay involves one or two ghost-busters who can suck monsters, ghosts, aliens, and various other oddball characters into vacuum-cleaner-like devices and spit them back as bouncing / rolling balls. Expelled enemies function as projectiles that can damage and kill other opponents on the screen when colliding with them. The protagonists work their way through stages set in different parts of the world, each with his or her own enemies and, at least, one boss.

The player has to complete every level within a specific period of time before exceeding the limits of an invisible timer. If the players do not manage to eliminate all the monsters in time, a Dracula-like beast appears and approaches them with a sinister laugh. If the beast manages to touch a player before he / she eliminates all the monsters, the player suffers an instant loss of a life. This also counts in the Boss levels.

Strategy

After you die, you’ll reappear and be invincible for a few seconds. Take advantage of it and suck up as many enemies as possible without fear. Throughout the game, the player(s) can collect letters of the alphabet found in randomly appearing bubbles in order to gradually spell the word “TUMBLEPOP”, the progress of which is permanently displayed at the bottom of the screen. When completed, players are transported to a bonus level which gives them the opportunity to obtain higher scores and an extra life.

Difficulty Levels

The player has to defeat the boss at the end of each level to progress further.

Interface and Controls

Use the arrow keys for navigation and the control button to start the vacuums.

Tumblepop™ is a creative game with an easy gameplay which makes it an enjoyable game to play for people of any age.

ToeJam and Earl™

Brett Somsen — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:37:01 +0000

Arcade games were successful in setting up a foundation for video games in the future. These games were simple and easy but they developed the basic idea and gameplay of the games we play today. These games were released in a variety of genres; sometimes two or more genres were combined in one game.

ToeJam & Earl™ is an action video game released in 1991. It centers on the titular ToeJam and Earl—alien “rappers” who have crash-landed on Earth. As they attempt to escape the planet, players assume the role of either character and collect pieces of their wrecked spacecraft. It parodies 1990’s urban culture and is set to a funk soundtrack.

The Gameplay

ToeJam & Earl™ takes place from a top-down perspective in a 2D game world. Its gameplay mechanics are like a dungeon-crawl game—a type of scenario in fantasy role-playing game in which heroes navigate a labyrinthine environment, battling various monsters, and looting any treasure they may find. The game contains both single-player and two-player cooperative modes.

The game is set on Earth, which is represented by randomly generated islands that float in space, each one a layer above the last. They are connected by elevators. Some islands contain pieces of spacecraft wreckage, of which the player must collect 10 to win the game. The player’s character drops to the island below if he falls from an island’s edge, which necessitates that the player locates an elevator again. Each island is populated by antagonistic “Earthlings”, such as phantom ice-cream trucks, aggressive packs of “nerds”, giant hamsters, Bogeymen, man-eating mailboxes, and police chickens. Certain Earthlings aid the player.

Strategy

Power-ups are contained in wrapped presents, which are categorized by appearance. The contents of a present are unknown to the player until it is opened; afterwards, all presents of that appearance are identified. Identification of presents’ contents is a central gameplay mechanic. Each power-up has a unique effect. Certain presents contain harmful power-ups, such the loss of a “life”, or the “randomizer”, which hides the identity of all presents.

Difficulty Levels

The game ends when the player loses all the lives available.

Interface and Controls

Use the arrow keys for navigation and the control buttons to perform other actions.

ToeJam and Earl™ is an innovative game, praised for its originality, soundtrack, humor, and two-player cooperative mode.

The Super Spy™

Brett Somsen — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:21:10 +0000

“First-person shooter” (FPS) is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. These games are very exciting and challenging to play. Many arcade games producers based their games on this genre.

The Super Spy™ is an early SNK game, made in 1990. It is a first-person shooter and beat-‘em-up game in which players move through the many floors of an office building shooting terrorists. It is an early example of a first-person shooter where only the player character’s arms and weapons are visible on screen.

The Gameplay

The gameplay of the game is very easy. It is a first-person shooter. The player has to control the main character whose arms and weapons are visible on the screen.

The story revolves around a CIA agent, named Roy Heart, who needs to traverse office buildings and warehouses to stop a group of terrorists, known as the Zolge King terrorist group, led by a man name King. The group is responsible for the horrible murders of thousands caused by destroying the subways with bombs. As Mr. Heart, the player hunts through the terrorists’ bomb factory for those responsible.

Strategy

The player can throw punches, kicks, and knee smashes. A strong punch and a combination of punches can also be thrown. Players can also “pistol-whip” enemies, if the control button is pressed while the player is armed with the pistol / machine gun. Blocking and ducking can also be done by the player. If a punch or a kick is pressed while ducking, an uppercut or a knee smash will be executed. Players can bob and weave, duck and block, and sidestep enemies’ attacks and deliver stronger blows. Alongside the martial arts expertise, the weapons of choice are a knife (which becomes rusty and dull with use), brass knuckles, a pistol, and an occasional machine gun.

Difficulty Levels

The player has to keep the three lives available intact to progress further in the game.

Interface and Controls

Use the arrow keys to move and a control button to perform various actions.

The Super Spy™ is a game with an interesting gameplay and can be enjoyed by everyone who plays it.

Sword of Vermillion™

Brett Somsen — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:14:07 +0000

Role-playing video games (RPG) are video games in which the player controls a small number of game characters, usually called a party, and achieves victory by completing a series of quests and reaching the conclusion of a central storyline. RPG was a popular genre in arcade video games.

Sword of Vermilion™ is a console role-playing arcade video game released in 1989. Sword of Vermilion™ is about the son of Erik, King of Excalabria, who takes on a quest of revenge to defeat Tsarkon and free the world of Vermilion from evil.

The Gameplay

The gameplay involves the player controlling the character of Erik. In the town of Excalabria people went about their business, and tended to the fields. One day, vicious fighting broke out everywhere as the army from Cartahena, led by the wizard-king Tsarkon, swarmed all over the town. The townsmen were overwhelmed, and the castle of King Erik V collapsed. Erik V summoned his bravest warrior, Blade, and gave him his infant son and an ancient family heirloom, the Ring of Wisdom. Erik ordered Blade to save himself and the child while the castle burned. Blade traveled to a small village named Wyclif, where he settled down and raised the child as his own son. Eighteen years later, the son of Erik begins his quest.

The quest consists of traveling to towns and villages, battling creatures to gain experience and finding items such as swords, shields, and armor, as well as many other items such as Herbs and Candles. Boss monsters take the form of larger, stronger creatures. No magic can be used while fighting them.

Strategy

The player can perform actions like kick, jump, and punch. The gameplay features different views and play style from more traditional RPGs of the time such as the “Battle View” (a tilted overhead view where the player takes full control of the character in real-time combat. The player can use weapons and magic and the “Boss View: which puts the player up against a boss from a sideways viewpoint.

Difficulty Levels

Defeat the boss at the end of each round to progress further.

Interface and Controls

Use the arrow keys to move the characters and the control buttons to perform various actions.

Sword of Vermilion™ is an interesting action game with exciting quests which motivates the player to complete the game.

Super Thunder Blade™

Brett Somsen — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:56:10 +0000

Shooter games are a sub-genre of action games, which often test the player’s speed and reaction time. As the name suggests, the purpose of a shooter game is to “shoot” opponents and proceed through missions without the player / character dying. Many arcade games were developed in this genre.

Super Thunder Blade™ is a shooter arcade video game. It is a sequel to the arcade game, Thunder Blade. The player controls a helicopter using guns and missiles to destroy enemy tanks, helicopters, and other war machinery to save his home country.

The Gameplay

The gameplay of the game involves the player controlling a helicopter loaded with ammunition to fight against and destroy the enemies. As in its predecessor, the player takes control of a helicopter which is used to attack a group of guerrillas. The helicopter itself uses guns and missiles, and can also “air brake.” A distinctive feature that also appears in the arcade game is the use of different viewpoints during the entire game—during normal gameplay and when fighting sub-bosses, the game utilizes a third-person perspective from behind the helicopter, but the camera changes to a top-down perspective when fighting bosses.

The plot of the game is that Francis McNeil “Frank” Murphy is a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) helicopter-pilot-officer and troubled Vietnam War veteran. His field partner is the newly assigned Richard Lymangood. The two patrol Los Angeles at night and give assistance to police cars below. Murphy is selected to pilot the world’s most advanced helicopter, nicknamed “Blue Thunder,” which is essentially a military-style combat helicopter intended for police use in surveillance and large-scale civil disobedience. Blue Thunder appears to be a formidable tool in the war on crime.

Strategy

The game introduced the use of force feedback in which the control pad vibrates when an action occurs. The use of a top-down view in the boss levels helps the user in fighting the enemy strategically.

Difficulty Levels

The game ends when the player loses all the lives.

Interface and Controls

Use the arrow keys for navigation and the control buttons to shoot at the enemies.

Super Thunder Blade™ has all the elements of the perfect shooter game and is very interesting to play.

Super Burger Time™

Brett Somsen — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:49:38 +0000

The introduction of arcade games in the 80’s led to the development of many creative and enjoyable video games. These games were uncomplicated and were designed to help adults and children unwind after a long day.

Super Burger Time™ is an arcade sequel to the innovative arcade game Burger Time. You play Chef Peter Pepper who has to make hamburgers, walking through a maze, while avoiding nasty toppings. This sequel is better than the original version because it offers new features and enemies.

The Gameplay

The gameplay of Burger Time™ involves the chef walk over hamburger ingredients located across a maze of platforms while avoiding pursuing characters. When Peter Pepper jumps on an ingredient (bun, meat patty, tomato, etc.), it falls one level. If it lands atop another ingredient, the latter in turn falls one level. A burger is completed when all vertically aligned ingredients have been dropped out of the maze and onto a waiting plate. Once all burgers are completed, the screen is finished.

Super Burger Time stars Peter Pepper Jr. and allows two players to play at once. It is fairly true to the original Burger Time, but has many added features and greatly improved graphics. It is much brighter and more colorful than the previous game. There are a lot more bad guys this time with different abilities. A few take more than one hit of pepper and the giant pea can shoots pea pods at the player.

Strategy

Enemies can be dodged, killed, or temporarily stunned. Killing occurs when an ingredient is dropped atop an enemy, or when support for an ingredient is completely removed and the enemy falls with the piece. Peter Pepper has pepper shots to shake on nearby enemies to stun and render them harmless for a few seconds. Extra shots are obtained by collecting bonus foods, such as coffee, an ice cream cone, or French fries. There are special weapons that you can pick up, like giant spatulas. These allow you to attack the food creatures at a safe distance.

Difficulty Levels

Each level is harder than the previous one. The game ends when the player loses all lives available.

Interface and Controls

Arrow keys are used to move Peter Pepper up, down, left, or right.

Super Burger Time™ is an interesting puzzle game and can be enjoyed by everyone.

Sonic the Hedgehog™

Brett Somsen — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:42:11 +0000

Who doesn’t know about Sega’s blue colored hero, Sonic the Hedgehog? Sonic the Hedgehog revolutionized the video gaming industry. It is one of the all-time best selling video game series released by Sega. The series began in 1991 with the release of the arcade game Sonic the Hedgehog.

Sonic the Hedgehog™ is a 1991 platform arcade video game and is the first installment in Sega’s flagship “Sonic the Hedgehog” video game series. All games in the series feature a blue hedgehog named Sonic as the central player character and protagonist. The games detail Sonic and his allies’ attempts to save the world from various threats, primarily the evil genius Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik—the main antagonistic of the series. Robotnik’s aim is to rule the Earth, and to achieve this he usually attempts to eliminate Sonic and to acquire the powerful Chaos Emeralds.

The Gameplay

The gameplay of the game involves the player controlling the character of Sonic the Hedgehog. In the game, Sonic must prevent Doctor Robotnik from collecting the six Chaos Emeralds in an attempt to rule South Island. The player controls Sonic as he traverses six zones, each of which is split into three “Acts.” At the end of the third act of each zone, the player faces Dr. Robotnik in one of his vehicles.

The gameplay centers on Sonic’s ability to run at high speeds with levels that include springs, slopes, high falls, and loop-de-loops. Hazards the player experiences include a wide variety of badniks—animals trapped inside mechanical bodies. The player must also avoid rows of sharp spikes, bottomless pits, and other obstacles.

Strategy

Scattered around each level are gold rings. Collecting 100 rings rewards the player with an extra life. Rings act as a layer of protection against hazards as long as Sonic is holding at least one ring, dropping them if he is hit by an obstacle or enemy. Shields and temporary invincibility can also be collected in order to provide additional layers of protection.

Difficulty Levels

There are six zones, each split into three acts. The game ends when the player loses all of the lives available.

Interface and control

The interface and controls are very easy. Use the arrow keys for navigation and the control button to perform other actions.

Sonic the Hedgehog™ is a revolutionary game. Its graphics and gameplay set it apart from other arcade games.