A ’95 WINDOWS OF THE GAMING WORLD – LC Plays Back In 1995

I am a bit of a latecomer when it comes to gaming. Rather than cutting my teeth in the arcades and mini-byte home consoles in the early days, I discovered my passion with a second-hand grey PlayStation and a stack of pre-owned games. Hardly retro, however this was before it became the PSOne, so maybe PSemi-Retro.

*Disclaimer: not my actual collection

Because of this, I have a certain fondness for the pixelated 32-bit games, particularly if they are 3D with D-pad controls……ahhhhh, those simpler days and days and DAYS of eventually mastering movements while hitting the directional control just right!

So when the opportunity came up to play and review BACK IN 1995, I pressed ∆ o x □ and jumped at the chance.

The game is very reminiscent of early survival horror; tank-ish controls, unexpected enemies, limited resources, plus those pixelated graphics. As a recent convert to the Resident Evil series, this game was practically screaming at me.

Not so retro was my impression from the title screen, which is a lone beacon shining out from a tall structure. This had a definite Bioshock vibe to it which although I knew was not the gaming style in any way, it still left a pleasant feeling which carried through my entire playthrough of the game.

To give the game a true experience of the times, there is a ‘CRT Effect’ that can be turned on in the Options screen, which adds low-res fuzzy lines to the graphics, however I chose not to enable this feature as I needed to experience it with my vision as clear as possible. But it is a very cool feature which I may try on another playthrough. There was one other choice in Options, a language setting, but nothing more, reflective of a simpler time when you enjoyed a game just as it was presented.

We begin with the simple goal of getting to the aforementioned tower with the glowing beam, but as we’re not entirely aware of why and how we ended up here we would have to use our exploration skills and uncover the story with clues found.

As mentioned before, the character is moved with tank controls, very slow and somewhat frustrating to get used to, but that is part of the genius of this game, it forces you to rethink your strategy after you’ve perished yet another time, as the dangers are (thankfully!) in the same spots. There is no run option, just a slow, steady gait, but the enemies aren’t very fast either. I tended to die mostly from the sheer panic of encountering every new ‘WTF?’ creature.

Speaking of, I am still not sure what the enemies really are, the first ones looked to me like pickled walnuts, but with arms that would scrape at you until you succumbed to their nutty way of killing. The later enemies were just as bizarre, each new one being more deadly than the previous and requiring more powerful weaponry. Your first line of defense is a simple yet effective pipe wrench, however as the tougher enemies are also faster, that doesn’t really cut the mustard so either the pistol or shotgun would get you through – thank goodness for auto-aim!

Save points are not plentiful, but thoughtfully rendered blocky computers of the day. The stat menu is plainly set up, you can see your items and health very clearly. And just like the survival horror of the day, there are clues and items to be found and utilised, and this may require some backtracking, but this is the absolute charm about this game. It truly is a homage to that genre.

I played the PS4 version of the game, and I instantly got a Trophy for starting the story. Other trophies were very easy to come by and the end result was my very first Platinum on that platform.
If you are into old school 3D games of the mid 90s, this game is definitely for you. It isn’t very long, the graphics, movements, and build-up are true to the source of inspiration. And the ending, now that was a real surprise and I would recommend this game solely to see this.

Back In 1995 is available on Xbox One, PS4, PSVita, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Developed by one-man team Ichijo Takaaki at Throw The Warped Code Out. Console versions published by Ratalaika Games.

A-BUNNY AND IVORY – LC Plays Bunny Mahjo

Ever since I read the The Joy Luck Club, I had a desire to play mahjong, the Chinese tile game that is central to the story.  I believe it may have been the way that author Amy Tan described the look, feel, and sound of the (presumably ivory) tiles that had a bit to do with this.

So when the opportunity to play mahjong on my beloved Xbox One came up, I was more than happy to try it out.  And not only play mahjong, but play with an adorable cartoon rabbit.  Welcome to BUNNY MAHJO!

The premise of the game is easy, play mahjong by controlling an animated rabbit to hop on the tiles.  Since I had never learned the rules of the game I didn’t think there’d be any problem learning as most video games have a tutorial of sorts.  Unfortunately there were no instructions on how to play in this game’s options, so I ended up having a forlorn and lost looking bunny (well, in my head anyway) as I didn’t have a clue what to do with it.  Off to the internet for some mahjong lessons I went.

The rules as it turns out are pretty easy – match tiles in pairs to clear a board.  With this newfound knowledge I smugly went back to the console intending to conquer this game with Mr Bunny.

So, we make the bunny hop across the many Chinese-symbolled tiles to find the ones that light up pale green.  But wait, I have to remember where I saw that other lit tile with the 3 lines.  Where was it?  This is a new dimension, I have to use my memory to master this game!

And what’s that at the top of the screen?  A timer.  Okay, I have to make the bunny hop around finding lit up tiles, I have to remember which ones match, and I have a timer recording how long this whole process is taking.

Once you clear a board, a new one unlocks, with a higher difficulty.  This continues until you unlock all the boards.  Then you can play against your own time.

I notice that there are ‘Hint’ and ‘Shuffle’ buttons on screen in case I get stuck.  Which did happen a few times.  I never used the former, however I did use the latter an average of 5 times during games.  Because the lit up tiles are set by location – I presumed those on the edges and those underneath other tiles get the literal green light – sometimes you get to a point where you can’t match anymore and a shuffle is needed to progress.  But of course, both these help buttons end up adding time to your game, so if you’re of the competitive mindset, it’s best not to use these unless absolutely necessary.

Because, yes, there is an element of competition with this sweet little game.  It actually has global Leaderboards.  Now I’m not sure how those top players solved the puzzles in the times stated, but if you do want to compete against them there is certainly the opportunity.

I myself am quite happy to compete with myself, bettering my time can be quite satisfying (note: there is also a 2-person local co-op mode).  But really, I just enjoy the feeling of clearing the board regardless of how long it takes.  I expect nothing less than an element of Feng shui in an ancient Chinese game.

One nice little touch which may or may not appeal is the ability to change your rabbit’s colouring.  And it’s done in a completely simple way, too.  Just hop your little friend into the room at the back and you’ll see a myriad of coloured tiles on the floor.  And just hop onto your chosen colour, your bunny instantly matches it.  No complicated colour wheel to navigate, so ‘Are you sure you want to save this?’ button, he changes instantly with no fuss.

Although lacking instructions on how to play, Bunny Mahjo is a nice little title to keep in your library when you just want a relaxing game to play by yourself.  Harmony achieved in a simple but satisfying way.

Bunny Mahjo is available now on Xbox One and PC.  Developed and published by Dilly Frame Games.

GETTING TO GRIPS WHILE TRYING TO STAY ON TRACK – LC Plays GRIDD: Retroenhanced

In case you weren’t aware from my blog photo and moniker, I am definitely a big fan of the Action/Adventure genre in gaming, this is where I feel most comfortable.  I do try to explore other areas, sometimes with success as in my growing confidence with First Person Shooters, or mastering my fear of both the tank controls and horror aspect of the Resident Evil series.  Other times not so much – side-scrolling platformers will always be the bane of my existence.  Like most gamers, I will give anything a go, as you never know what may become your next favourite game.  Though GRIDD: Retroenhanced wasn’t destined to become my next fave game, it turned out that I can enjoy this type of game despite my inexperience.   Or warning from the game itself.

GRIDD: Retroenhanced is classed as an arcade shooter, and with it’s pulsating music and stylish neon graphics, it takes you right back to the 1980s.  This is what drew me to play it.  Now I knew I was never really going to master this one.  My history with fast moving games is pretty dismal – unless it’s a cart racer, I have little hope in hell of even passing the training mode of most racers.  But the look and sound of this was intriguing, I really wanted to have a go on it.

The premise is pretty easy to follow; you speed on a track and shoot the obstacles to gain more points.  Avoid the obstacles.  You try to get to the end by beating the bosses.  And then you try again apparently.  I’m only speculating on the last bit, as I wasn’t skilled enough to quite get to the end.

As for the controls, there is no acceleration nor a forward one.  You move left/right, up/down with the left stick and press a controller button on the right to shoot.  There is a very short tutorial clip to explain this, but that wasn’t necessary in my case for once.

Thankfully the obstacles are always in the same place, and do the same thing, so with a bit of practice I could predict where to shoot and dodge.  In theory.  In practice, my reflexes aren’t always that responsive and what should be a clean, easy run just was never to be.  But not that I didn’t enjoy trying.  This game is fun.

As I stated above, I was never able to finish the whole circuit, although I did come very close.  I ended up playing it at least 20 times and it was satisfying seeing my score slowly improve after each play, and I will be returning to try to get to that final boss.

This game was clearly made for the retro arcade shooter crowd.  But even though will never likely to be one of those hallowed gamer-types, I still had fun with it and will keep it installed for some light diversion.

GRIDD: Retroenhanced is available now on Xbox One and PC.  Developed by Antab Studios, published by Kongregate

griddgame.com

DIGGING UP THE ROOTS – LC Plays Sagebrush

Let me first start out by saying this game ended up being pretty personal to me.  I was intrigued at first when I read it was set in New Mexico, a place I am very familiar with after having spent many childhood summers there.  The graphics are lo-fi 3D, similar to the style present when I first started gaming on the PS1.  This was a story re-telling, trying to find clues of what happened by exploring, something right up my alley.  And the central story revolves around a religious cult that performed a mass suicide.  I have always been fascinated with the whys and how this could happen, however it further touched a nerve as though I was never in a cult, I had spend some years as a born-again Christian in my youth and the indoctrination had a real familiar tone to it.

 

The premise of the story is that you search the grounds for clues as to how the mass suicide occurred.  You start by driving to the complex in a car, and upon reaching the ranch, the camera turns to first person mode as you are then on the outside of the complex next to your car and must search around for a way in.  As you continue, more clues are given which leads to different areas, and the full story unfolds.

 

The setting itself wasn’t unsettling, in fact it was quite beautiful in it’s isolation and dusky tones.  I could just about feel the dry warm air flowing through.  It didn’t matter that there was a blocky look to the textures, it all worked very well and all my senses were reminded of the Enchanted state.

 

One aspect of the old style graphic limitations meant that the bushes scattered around moved when you moved the camera, gave me the feeling of those pictures where the eyes seem to follow you around.  Not that seemingly twirling bushes are scary, but when you’re searching for clues in a once lived-in ranch, sometimes finding bloodstains in your path, they can add a bit of a ghost-like atmosphere.

The sound editing adds to this convincingly well.  When doors open they creak, and if you don’t shut them yourself, they creak just as noisily, with the addition of a sudden slam to jar you.  On occasion you can hear a wolf in the background, which makes you wonder if you will be facing a fight to the death later on.  Even when you turn on all the lights in the broad daylight, it still can be unnerving.  And when you find and listen to the many cassette recorders lying around, the colour drains to black and white, and stays that way until the audio diary stops and the colour returns.

It took me a while to figure out there was a ‘run’ button on my controller, so for most of the first playthrough I crept along at a very slow pace.  This in itself built up some tension which added to the haunted feeling of the place. At one point I saw shadows moving at a barn door, which also made me a little twitchy.  I did finally investigate it and it wasn’t quite what it seemed, just the lo-res graphics doing their best to creep me out once again.

I was probably too cautious around the many low bushes on the landscape, as in real life there would be the possibility of rattlesnakes hidden dangerously in them.  But then, I didn’t hear that infamous rattling sound as I traipsed, so I should have considered myself safe.

After a while you begin to understand how these people ended up and stayed in this cult.  The last segment was a work of genius in my opinion, the stuff of a great thriller film.  I won’t spoil it for you, of course, but it really sticks with you.

And that ending, this is what makes a game take your breath away and you realise you have just had one of the best gaming experiences in your life.  Really, it was that good in my opinion.

If you like a bit of detective work in your games and want to feel fully engrossed in an all-consuming atmosphere, this game is for you.  Even if you’re not into old school graphics, you will soon forget that minor cosmetic as you dig out the truth behind the tragic end of this group of people.  Highly recommended.

Sagebrush out now on Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch. Developed by Redact Games, published by Ratalaika Games.

 

 

TRIGGER HAPPY – LC Plays Bouncy Bullets

When it comes to video games, there are certain kinds that I tend to be less than proficient at. One is platforming. The other is First Person Shooters. So why would I decide to have a go at Petite Games’ Bouncy Bullets? Why, it looked so cute and cheerful, full of colour, it looked like fun!

The game play is easy enough to understand and get stuck in with. There are on-screen instructions in the first few levels and even I got through them with little incident.

 

But of course, levels get slightly more difficult as you play, and then more difficult as new obstacles and challenges emerge. Sure, I can see and shoot at that enemy on the roof top, but didn’t expect for bullets to fly from a hidden place which I either have to experiment my aiming towards a totally blind spot, or chance getting across the level to get closer, all the while trying to dodge those bullets.

The gun itself is easy to shoot with. You will need to aim on some enemies, but the spray and pray works well as there is no reloading and the ammo is infinite. The bullets themselves are yellow and purple, and knowing which colour to shoot does become important in certain situations.

Levels repeat themselves after a while, however they will have added dangers this time, be it a table saw blade or two, some lasers, or an extra enemy. Being familiar is helpful, you know exactly where to go but can get caught out unexpectedly with the added elements.

Bouncy Bullets is relatively short in gaming terms, I was able to finish it after work one evening, albeit into the early morning hours. As every level has a timer, there is some replay value in trying to improve your score. There is also a Special Mode with different challenges as well as extra rewards per your gaming platform, you know, those Achievements and Trophies everyone loves.

Ah yes, those rewards. This game is mighty generous with them. I ended up with 9 out of 12 Xbox Achievements on that first playthrough, and at 90G each, that was quite a boost to my Gamerscore.

At about the 5 Dollar/Pound/Euro mark, Bouncy Bullets is a nice little investment of fun. Despite the frustration at times, it’s actually a pleasure to play. Not a bad game to jump into.

LC Plays First Hour of Bouncy Bullets

Bouncy Bullets out now on Xbox One, PS4, PSVita, and Nintendo Switch. Developed by Petite Games, published by Ratalaika Games.

Shedding Light On Lara’s Origins

You have to admire anyone who would rewrite Lara Croft’s history.  She has held iconic status for over 20 years and it would take a lot of skill and passion to pull such a feat as this, to satisfy fans old and new.  Crystal Dynamics managed to do this with the 2013 release of Tomb Raider, continued her story with 2015’s Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Eidos Montreal have taken over the mighty reigns and come full circle with 2018’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider.  And they have closed that circle nicely.

We start off with Lara’s quest to find the truth behind Trinity, her father’s death, and the connection between the two. Jonah makes an appearance for the third time, offering help and advice to Miss Croft as her curiosity gets the better of her and she ends up setting off a foretold apocalypse by obtaining a sacred dagger in the hopes that it does not land in the hands of Trinity.  The dark shadow is not only cast on her, but the whole world with her actions.

When we left off at the end of Rise, Lara had toughened up considerably.  No longer was she the scared young woman lost in Yamatai, she went looking for answers and did not let anyone get in her way.  So by the time she begins her adventure in Shadow, she is ready to take on whatever life throws at her.  And throw it right back.  You can see that her facial expressions are far more convincing, whether she is having a joke with Jonah or showing contempt for a ruthless enemy. She swears a bit more in this game, which reflects her response to what she is facing.  But as mentioned before, she also shows her lighter side, cracks a joke or two or expressing enthusiasm for a discovery of some sort.

This game is very polished and glides along nicely.  Skills Lara had learned in her previous two adventures are already present such as the ability to craft arrows, and the presence of rope arrows,  Underwater, Lara is able to dig,  open crates and boxes, and pull up life-saving plants, not just magically collect an item with the swipe of her hand.  One thing was noteworthy, there was a bit of co-op with Jonah, perhaps hinting at the multiplayer mode in the future.

 

The jungle feels real, a bit claustrophobic, and alive with creatures and greenery all around, you could practically feel the humidity as you play.  The water is the best I’ve seen so far, the caverns are quite creepy, and the mountain vistas truly breathtaking.  I thought they looked great in Rise, this game has stepped them up another notch.  The sound engineers did an amazing job as well, whether it’s the sound of stones being moved, hearing large water bubbles as you move underwater, or the enhanced and realistic sounds of the weapons, where arrows sound snappier and deeper and guns feel realistic.

There are nice little benign areas set up just to hunt animals, some treasures and hidden places about, making a change from the combat and gives Lara a chance to refresh.  Some animals do not glow as killable, but point a bow at them and the reticle turns red. These are probably considered rarer and more endangered than your usual birds and rabbits.  And yes, there are tombs, more challenging than the previous two games, and incredibly atmospheric.

Colour is a big part of this game.  While 2013 TR had a nice variety when compared to the more monochromatic hues of Rise, Shadow ups the colour nicely.  We’re not talking neon-dayglo or Toontown Technicolor, just a varied and lush spread all around, from in the game environments to the maps you acquire, right down to the skills menu, it looks fresher, more up to date, and inviting.

Speaking of Skills, these are named after the animals you encounter in the jungle, and are divided into 3 separate factions:  Seeker, Warrior, and Scavenger.  The more basic ones start with  a cost of one skill point, but these increase with higher levels so you really do earn your skills with this one.

There are three new traversing skills not seen in this trilogy so far.  Wall runs aren’t the slightly sterile and sometimes impossibly tricky ones of the previous re-boot, now they feel more realistic, and don’t require a physics degree to figure out the angle to grab ledges behind you; they are nicely spaced out and you only go in the direction you are actually running in.  Rappelling is a new skill, not entirely complicated, but makes perfect sense for a character who is tied to a stone-face with a hook and some cord to gently glide down to a solid surface.  Overhang climbs, however, are my new favourite skill.  Again, not something that takes much to master, but I get a pure sense of joy hanging nearly upside down while traversing.

Swinging from hooks was more difficult, even on Easy.  I had to be careful when lining these up, after many failed attempts at speed I slowed down and took a little time for the final successful run.

Lara’s stealth skills have also increased, there are a couple more including using mud to blend into environments and integrating with walls to creep past.  If Lara is caught, she has the ability to sneak away into a dark corner or up a distant tree and not be seen again.

When Lara finds items or treasures, for the first time we have a choice whether or not to look and learn about the item, they are instantly filed away without any explanation.  If you want gameplay to progress without interruption, then you don’t have to hit a back button to cancel the narrations as in the previous 2 games.  You can look and learn from them any time you wish, however I did learn the Inca numbering system to an extent, which was part of the story line.

One great feature about this game, and one that should satisfy the older fans, is the adaptable Difficulty matrix.  You can set the Combat, Exploration, and Puzzle elements from Easy to Very Hard.  Easy is exactly as it says, for someone who wants the minimal challenge.  As long as you don’t mind Lara repeating hints and tasks repetitively that is.  The hardest setting, Deadly Obsession is manageable at the outset, however since every skill is set to Very Hard, and with Survival Instinct disabled, this really is as challenging as it’s name. Below is a simple comparison of climbable walls set to Easy and Very Hard

Smart & Resourcel (Easy)

Deadly Obsession (Very Hard)

One special note, I was nicely struck by the localisation in certain parts.  Having a personal connection to all that is Latin America, I loved how the people in Central America pronounced Lara as in saying the Spanish surname, and was amused by the drunk in the beginning who told her to leave his office.  That was realistically funny.

This was an absolute joy to play.  The look and feel is set to a very high standard, the puzzles and tombs are challenging, there is a lot of variety and the story is inspired.  Oh yes, the story.  Lara had descended into darkness, her life torn apart, and sets out to find the truth. What she finds will be left for you to discover.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider Available September 14, 2018 on Xbox One, PC, PS4       PEGI 18 / ESRB M  Square Enix, Eidos-Montréal, Crystal Dynamics, Nixxes