#90s shoot'em up | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

arcadebroke · 1 month

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zachsgamejournal · 8 months

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PLAYING: Quake 2

I've been weaning myself off of violent video games (thank you indie games) but admittedly there is something stupidly fun about Quake 2's murder simulation.

STORY TIME? -- Yes.

After my mother stole my penny collection to pay for gas. She overcompensated with an apology by letting buy a game. I chose Quake 2. Not sure why, but I did. But this was the PS1 version. So however graphically challenged the PC version might have been, the PS1 version was worse. And while I never beat it, nor did I find it playable after switching to Medal of Honor (PS1), I still enjoyed the time I had with it. The aesthetic and atmosphere in particular stuck with me. And that's really making this experience enjoyable now.

PRESENT DAY

After Hades pissed me off for being itself, I needed a cleanse. Something less punishing, less strategic, something that I could pick up and drop without much consideration. Right on cue, Quake 2 Remaster appears in Game Pass. Having found memories of the aesthetic I decide to give it a try. To my surprise I found myself moving pretty quickly through levels. So when I first thought this should just be a cleanse, I've now decided to commit to beating it.

While I grew up a huge fan of Mortal Kombat and any game with blood, guts, and gore--I don't like it anymore. To much time and energy is focused on how to kill people. On the one hand it's disturbing, and on the other is boring. Grand Theft Auto was great because it went beyond the murder simulation (though there was a lot of murder). You could be a taxi cab driver, put out fires, look for stunts--and the games expanded to the point now you can do yoga. Don't know why you would want to, but you can. Point is, I don't think players just wanted to kill things. That was just easy gameplay and easy satisfaction. By the early 2000s, games were starting to expand beyond their core mechanics.

Consider Final Fantasy 7, it was filled with mini games like snow boarding, Chocobo Breeding and Racing, a Submarine combat adventure, and other things. It was as much fun to live in Final Fantasy as it was to battle large bosses. Actually, I preferred the living to battling. And as we saw more open world games appear on the market, we started to see gameplay that existed outside of just shooting. And games like Morrowind and Metal Gear Solid often offered non-violent alternatives to mission completion. For me in particular, games that limited your choices and abilities to violence were ages behind the curve, singular, and boring.

So why is Quake 2 so much fun in 2023? Firstly, it comes from an age where game companies struggled to get basic gameplay elements working to satisfaction. Not that they sucked at their jobs, but 3D games were new and computers were weak. Today you can copy-paste FPS blue prints to Unreal Engine and you're 90% of the way there. It took a lot of work to get games to run well, look decent, and be fun. Because Q2 is so focused on the base shoot'em up gameplay, it's not overly concerned with stepping outside its wheelhouse. You run around pushing buttons until the exit opens and shoot any baddies that get in the way: simple, sweet, and fun.

Comparatively, today's shooters have to tell a story. Good, I like story, but usually their storytelling isn't competent because they're just checking a gamer expectation box, or their storytelling isn't congruent with the story. Kind of like Black and Battlefield 3. You have levels of action intercut with scenes that take place in an interrogation. there's no meaningful attempt to marry the two. Most games can be this way, but these were obvious cheats. Q2 says fuck that, there's a war and you're fighting in it.

And because the story is light, you get two unintentional advantages that many games suffer from today: the gameplay isn't constantly interrupted to "tell story" or explain mechanics, and there's no unnecessary filler: "Oh, I guess we owe them a cut-scene here..." Explaining mechanics is important. Late 90s and early 00s it seemed every game contained a tutorial level. Usually some sort of training camp before sending you out there. Fine. But it prevents you from playing the game, especially when mandated. Later, games included the tutorials in early levels, so while there was usually story and plot infused into the game--you were still being trained. It was clear that you were not to be unleashed until much later. It's not a bad idea, but when you're replaying the game or playing sequels and you have to be "retaught" it can be boring.

Mario Bros. for NES taught the player as they played. Through trial and error you learn what's bad and what's good. You learn the layout and rhythm of the levels. And since the game is bombarding you with cut scenes, you can immediately restart the level and get caught up. Having recently played NES's Zelda, I was overwhelmed by the difficulty but impressed with how the game allowed you to explore it and figure it out at your own pace. The harder dungeons are blocked by necessary items and since you get to keep items and money upon death, you're never truly starting over. That's how Quake 2 works. Figuring the game out is the game. Games trying to be cinematic and overly story driven are so dedicated to guiding you down the "right path" you feel out of control. I don't think this was a sincere design choice, it's just how games were made at this time. And it's fun.

So...to further explain: this game is really about exploration. The levels are interestingly designed with branching paths and secrets. You're also able to move forward and back through levels--sometimes having to perform a few objectives in one map then the other. I love exploration games and Q2 doesn't disappoint. Checking every hall, jumping on top of every box, shooting barrels and finding secrets constantly reward you with more ammo or health. And you need those to survive. The shooting, on the other hand, isn't really what the game is about. It just makes exploring the levels more interesting.

I also appreciate how simple the controls are. You move, aim, jump, and shoot. Need to open a door, walk up to it. Need to push a button, walk into. Need to activate an elevator, stand on it. It makes action buttons in more modern shooters seem superfluous. I appreciate this. It makes me think of how Sea of Thieves works so well because your player controls are simple and everything is based on context. Unlike Assassin's Creed 4, you don't need to remember a million button combinations to work the ship. Need to raise/lower the sales, walk over to the rope that controls it. I could go on, but the point is that game keeps it simple which keeps it fun and intuitive.

Also, shooting things is fun. I hate myself a little for it, but as Portal and Metroid Prime get--shooting anything for any purpose is fun, you don't have to kill stuff. In truth, shooting is fun because you get to see an immediate result: I pull a trigger, something gets hit. The feedback is immediate and rewarding. Since I was a kid, I've shot tons of windows, walls, and water--especially water. It's always fun to see how the environment responds to bullets, grenades, lasers, and whatever. It's just fun to shoot things.

I'm very much against killing.

But what's really keeping me here is the aesthetic, and a little the music. I was just getting into metal when I first started playing Quake 2. Sadly, I also got sick and was suffering from a headache. I was in denial that the guitar riffing soundtrack was at fault. Since I've routinely listened to the sound track while doing chores and suffered zero headaches, I know it's not the OST's fault. But the design is peak 90's industrial. Lots of browns and greys. It's so dreary and oppressive, but also interesting. It almost feels lived in. Anyway, I'm moving along and having fun. I even faced my first boss. We'll see if I can keep up the pace.

#zach's game journal #playing #Quake 2 #xbox one #Game Pass #video games #gaming

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cassettefuturism87 · 4 years

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Remember that time, it was 23:55, 1999-12-31, you didn't give a shit about the coming new millennium, and just want to shoot and blow everything up in DemonStar?

#demonstar #game #y2k #90s #computer culturescape #cassettefuturism87 #cassette futurism #freeware #shoot'em up

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krazy-paradise · 2 years

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I am proud to share with this humble page of mine, my and my sister’s first job as Japanese translators. Go check it out~~

#game #video #video game #arcade game #honestly the trailer is super cool

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mingos-commodoreblog · 6 years

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Z-Out (Amiga)

Z-Out - Normale und Budget-Version

Genre: Shoot'em up Publisher: Rainbow Arts Anzahl Datenträger: 1 Chipset: OCS/ECS Jahr: 1990 Bewertung: 90% (Amiga Format)

Zum Eintrag

#commodore #amiga #retro #retrogaming #videogames #floppy #disk #budget #kixx

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manijarevista · 4 years

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No tan "High Score"

Los videojuegos siguen teniendo una presencia en el resto de medios y expresiones culturales que no se corresponde a su descomunal impacto social.

Aunque la cosa va cambiando poco a poco. Cada vez tenemos, por ejemplo, más documentales sobre la historia del videojuego. Y claro Netflix, la gran acaparadora, no podía dejar de aportar su granito de arena. Su apuesta es "High Score", una miniserie de seis episodios sobre la era dorada de los videojuegos.

Y es una verdadera gozada, sobre todo para los que crecimos en los 80 y 90, décadas que representaron un auténtico big bang para el medio, y en las que los avances tecnológicos iban de la mano de la creatividad y la innovación aceleradas. Mola mucho además que no se limiten a entrevistar a los grandes nombres, diseñadores, programadores y ejecutivos de las compañías más populares, sino que también hablen de los primeros gamers y jugadores profesionales. Igualmente, está guay que muestren cómo los videojuegos también han contribuido a la inclusión, a empoderar comunidades e individuos marginados y a fomentar la creatividad y la imaginación. Se agradece que muestren una cara positiva de un sector que demasiado a menudo es mirado por encima del hombro, sobre todo por quienes más lo desconocen.

Los temas de los seis capítulos están más que bien escogidos: los orígenes de la industria en los 70 hasta el famoso crack de principios de los 80; la emergencia de la todopoderosa Nintendo y la hegemonía de la NES; la aparición de los primeros juegos de aventuras y rol (mi capítulo favorito, precisamente porque es desde siempre mi género favorito); la guerra de consolas entre SEGA y Nintendo de los 90 -el peor y más decepcionante, muy superficial-; el boom de los juegos de lucha a principios de los 90 y, finalmente, la revolución del 3D y la aparición de los shoot'em up en primera persona y la conexión multijugador por Internet. Son todos los que están, pero desde luego no están todos los que son. Porque quedan muchísimas historias que no se cuentan y que se echan de menos: el Tetris -quizá el juego más popular de todos los tiempos- aparece apenas de pasada cuando la historia de los juegos en la Europa del Este es una de las más fascinantes; tampoco aparece la histórica Lucasarts ni se habla de la edad dorada de las aventuras gráficas; nada de los simuladores de construcción de mundos, como Sin City o Populous, o los Sims y Civilization posteriores; ni de los precursores de los actualmente popularísimos survival horror y las aventuras de exploración en mundo abierto, como la mítica saga de Alone in the Dark; y nada de nada de la explosión de los ordenadores personales de 8 bits en los 80 (Spectrum, Amstrad, C64, MSX…) No he encontrado por ninguna parte referencias a una posible segunda temporada, así que son demasiadas faltas como para considerar a "High Score" la serie documental definitiva del mundo de los videojuegos.

De hecho, "High Score" tiene otros defectos importantes. Principalmente, centrarse demasiado en la experiencia estadounidense como si fuera el metro patrón de la historia del videojuego. Por momentos te da la sensación de que incluso los japoneses salen más porque no queda más remedio que porque realmente importe la contribución nipona al medio, cuando es igual e incluso superior a la norteamericana. Peor aún lo llevamos los europeos, que no aparecemos en ningún momento, ni como consumidores ni como productores, como si no hubieran existido en España, Francia o Italia industrias potentes que han dejado huella en la evolución del videojuego.

Pese a todo, los amantes del mundillo lo disfrutarán enormemente y seguramente se la beberán en dos patadas, como me ha pasado a mí.

Lemmytico en filmaffinity

#recomendaciones

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linuxgamenews · 5 years

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Hyper Ultra Astronautics a Free multiplayer shooter

Hyper Ultra Astronautics, the games a Free multiplayer space shooter for Linux and Windows PC. Thanks to the creative efforts of FRACTiLE Games. This is available on Itch and worth checking out. Hyper Ultra Astronautics is a local multiplayer space shooter for 1-16 players. Since you can run the game on almost any PC. Play using keyboard, mouse or gamepads. You can also join a match using your mobile phone as a controller. Since FRACTiLE Games released a new beta version. So you can jump into their physics based local multiplayer. But also remember, this is a space shoot'em up. The final release is nearing. Therefore your feedback is needed now more than ever.

Hyper Ultra Astronautics gameplay trailer (Linux, Windows PC)

youtube

The games is an old school space arena shooter. Since gameplay features solo, competitive and co-op game modes. Which is playable for up to 16 players on a single PC. With a range of unique weapons and thruster based controls. First prototype for Hyper Ultra Astronautics was built in 2015. FRACTiLE Games wants to make an old school local multiplayer party shooter. Those that we all used to play in the 90's. Although I'm also curious how you connect 16 people on one PC. But with the use of a phone as a controller. Bluetooth makes sense. Anyone want to try and see?

Features:

Competitive and co-op game modes for intense party/couch gameplay.

Semi-realistic ship movement based on simulated thrusters.

Wide selection of unique weapons in Hyper Ultra Astronautics.

Players can drop in and out of the action as they please.

Online high scores for co-op survival game mode.

Also, development is currently in late beta phase. There is a fully playable beta version freely available for download. Hyper Ultra Astronautics is available support for Linux and Windows PC for Free. You can also pay what you want with a price of your choosing. So check it out on now Itch. It's Free, so there is no excuse.

#hyper ultra astronautics #multiplayer #space shooter #linux #gaming news #fractile games #ubuntu #windows #pc

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smlpodcast · 4 years

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The SML Podcast - Episode 578: Bob-Omb!

Download Episode 578

We've got the latest news from Inside Xbox with our friend Kris Huber on this episode of SML!

The show kicks off with returning former co-host Kris Huber joining for the night to chat about the latest Inside Xbox episode! The latest trailers and brief gameplay footage from DiRT, SCORN, Vampire, The Medium, Scarlet Nexus, Yakuza, and more all get discussed from this half hour presentation highlighting third party releases coming to Xbox Series X.

We also chat about the rest of the news of the week including the latest additions to Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Now, May's free game lineup from Twitch, an Embracer Group IP swap between THQ Nordic & Koch Media, and the newest DLC coming to Mortal Kombat 11! Also, Kris works on getting his Xbox up and running and the latest on his Animal Crossing Pen Island! Plus reviews!

SnowRunner is the latest powerful vehicle simulator in some extreme environments from Saber Interactive & Focus Home Interactive. Daymare 1998 is a third person survival horror game that embodies the spirit of 90's horror classics from Invader Studios, Destructive Creations, and All in! Games.

Dread Nautical is a captivatingly eerie tactical turn based RPG from Zen Studios. Surlyna writes in a review of the co-op puzzle platformer Biped from NExT Studios & Postmeta Games. Task Force Kampas draws from the golden age of Japanese shoot'em ups in this retro action shooter from Casiopea Wave & eastasiasoft.

Zombies ruined my day is a zombie infested wave based 2D shooter from mancebo games & Rendercode Games. Tropico 6 got some global megabrand style DLC in The Llama of Wall Street DLC from Limbic Entertainment & Kalypso Media. Finally, DarkMika joins the show to review Infinite - Beyond the Mind, a 2D retro action platformer with chibi pixel style from Emilie COYO & Blowfish Studios.

The show ends with some "Bob-Omb Battlefield" from the recently released album Hang On To Your Hat from Video Game Jazz Orchestra!

Video Game Jazz Orchestra - Bob-Omb BattleField

https://snowrunner-thegame.com/ https://saber3d.com/games/ https://www.focus-home.com/ http://www.daymarethegame.com/ https://destructivecreations.pl/ https://www.allingames.com/ http://dreadnautical.com/ https://blog.zenstudios.com/ https://nextstudios.com/ https://casiopea.itch.io/ https://www.eastasiasoft.com/ https://www.rendercodegames.com/ https://www.limbic-entertainment.de/ https://www.kalypsomedia.com/us https://www.blowfishstudios.com/game/infinite https://vgjazzorchestra.bandcamp.com/ https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sml-podcast/id826998112 https://open.spotify.com/show/6KQpzHeLsoyVy6Ln2ebNwK https://play.google.com/music/m/Ip2gi72kuype4waf6bji5hukm7i https://twitter.com/theSMLpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/theSMLpodcast/ ALL REVIEWED GAMES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FOR FREE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY COVERAGE ON THE SHOW

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majornelson · 4 years

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AngerForce And AlienCruise Arcade Shooting Bundle Is Now Available For Xbox One

AngerForce and AlienCruise Arcade Shooting Bundle

E-Home Entertainment Development Co., Ltd

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$11.99

Get it now

Experience two classic shooting games with an unbelievable price！ AngerForce Metacritic Score- 80! AngerForce: Reloaded is an action-packed vertically scrolling shoot'em up game that pays homage to the classics of 90’s arcades. This high octane experience is set against the backdrop of a 19th century human world that has seen the outbreak of a robot rebellion. AlienCruise is an independent side scroller shooting game. Its background is set at the foreseeable future, when protagonist is facing a survival crisis due to deterioration of the Earth’s natural environment. At this point, some scientists detect the existence of other planets outside their own galaxy with other types of life on them, which are very likely to be suitable for human beings. They therefore trained a group of elite space astronauts to look for chances of extending life in the outer space and save their home. These well-trained space warriors need to drive spacecrafts to explore and find a planet suitable for human life. In the unknown space, unprecedented great challenges awaits them.

Product Info:

Developer: Screambox & CottonGames

Publisher: E-Home Entertainment Development

Website: Games published by E-Home Entertainment

Twitter: @ScreamboxGame / @eHomeBJH

Related: Bayonetta And Vanquish Are Now Available For Xbox One Dead Cells: The Bad Seed Bundle Is Now Available For Xbox One Indie Darling Bundle Vol. 2 Is Now Available For Xbox One

via Xbox Live's Major Nelson https://ift.tt/38BxhJY

#Xbox Live's Major Nelson

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arcadebroke · 1 month

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abandonwaredos · 5 years

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More shoot'em ups from the past

Shoot'em ups were one of the most popular video games genre in the 80s and, perhaps, in the 90s. Then, for a number of reasons, shoot'em ups gradually lost their appeal as a genre. Yes, there were exceptions like Geometry Wars and similar games, but the golden age was long gone.One other genre that saw a decline in popularity was the platformer. But, unlike shoot'em ups, platform games became a favourite of indie developers that flooded the digital market with their creations.DOS wasn't the system for which the best shoot'em ups shined, but there were quite a few of them that deserve a mention and can still be played on modern PCs.shooter Seek and Destroyshooter Interphaseshooter Tempest 2000shooter Total Carnageshooter Cosmic Crusadershooter Thunderblade #abandonware http://dlvr.it/RB0zTB

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christec · 7 years

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Test Sine Mora EX, un shoot'em up old school comme on aime #ChrisTec #Sine #XboxOne #PC Sortie dans un premier temps sur PC, PlayStation 4 et Xbox One, Sine Mora EX débarque aussi sur la Nintendo Switch et il a de quoi plaire à tous les fans de shoot'em up des années 90. Un petit bijou remis au goût du jour Sine Mora est sorti en 2012 sur différentes plateformes et THQ Nordic a décidé d'améliorer ce shoot'em up pour ensuite le sortir sur PC, PS4, Xbox One et Switch sous le nom de Sine Mora EX. De ce fait, le jeu voit ses graphismes améliorés et l'arrivée d'un mode histoire et d'un mode arcade. Sine Mora Ex est… Lire la suite : Test Sine Mora EX, un shoot'em up old school comme on aime sur Hitek.fr #Sine #XboxOne #PC

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xanestus · 7 years

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manic pixie dream girl sounds like the name of a shoot'em up game from the 90s

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arcadebroke · 24 days

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