One thing I will grumble about with the Enhanced Editions of the Infinity Engine games is that the PC versions never got the console controls patched in as an option, which would be super useful for playing them on Steam Deck or other handheld PCs.
I do wish more games that later got console ports - and thus UIs and controls added - would get those back-ported into the PC versions, as options. Mostly an issue with strategy games, 4X's and RPGs of course.
As a new deck owner who has mainly been playing on the switch for the last 7 years I feel this deeply. Sure I can play BG1 or 2 on the deck, but it will probably be more enjoyable getting those on the Switch where I can play from the couch. Another example being Diablo 3 which has excellent console controls that have never been an option on PC.
I fired up Rebel Assault this morning. (The series has come up recently, and then I had listened to the start of the NPR Star Wars radio drama)
Blown away with how easy and short the first 2 chapters are. Man, those were tougher as a kid with a CH Flightstick.
For a while there, one of the fan patchers went a little nutty and was revising the game way too much.
Is there one yet that only fixes the bugs and doesn’t add a bunch of shit and/or changes a bunch of number values and stuff? That was my frustration with even the basic patch last I used it…like seven years ago.
For a while there, one of the fan patchers went a little nutty and was revising the game way too much.
Is there one yet that only fixes the bugs and doesn’t add a bunch of shit and/or changes a bunch of number values and stuff? That was my frustration with even the basic patch last I used it…like seven years ago.
It has a basic patch that fixes just the bugs, but it suspect that it also alters some stats in the game.
The author was that same author that got carried away with the changes. It sounds like he reeled it back in.
One thing I will grumble about with the Enhanced Editions of the Infinity Engine games is that the PC versions never got the console controls patched in as an option, which would be super useful for playing them on Steam Deck or other handheld PCs.
I do wish more games that later got console ports - and thus UIs and controls added - would get those back-ported into the PC versions, as options. Mostly an issue with strategy games, 4X's and RPGs of course.
As a new deck owner who has mainly been playing on the switch for the last 7 years I feel this deeply. Sure I can play BG1 or 2 on the deck, but it will probably be more enjoyable getting those on the Switch where I can play from the couch. Another example being Diablo 3 which has excellent console controls that have never been an option on PC.
Still, that's why the Deck has those trackpads. Between them and Steam Input, they cover a multitude of sins.
But yeah, the option for bespoke controls/UI would be nice, when they already exist elsewhere.
For a while there, one of the fan patchers went a little nutty and was revising the game way too much.
Is there one yet that only fixes the bugs and doesn’t add a bunch of shit and/or changes a bunch of number values and stuff? That was my frustration with even the basic patch last I used it…like seven years ago.
It has a basic patch that fixes just the bugs, but it suspect that it also alters some stats in the game.
The author was that same author that got carried away with the changes. It sounds like he reeled it back in.
I recently tried the patch that changes and adds a bunch of things. The things I noticed are pretty pointless.
The Anarch bar has everyone moved around. Skelter and Damsel are swapped and Jack is now on the other side of the stairs on the first floor.
Just...why? What purpose does this serve? It's change for the sake of change.
I fired up Rebel Assault this morning. (The series has come up recently, and then I had listened to the start of the NPR Star Wars radio drama)
Blown away with how easy and short the first 2 chapters are. Man, those were tougher as a kid with a CH Flightstick.
Last time I played Rebel Assault 1 I came to the conclusion that it's basically unplayable. Some of the levels control easier with the mouse, some control easier with the keyboard, some control easier with a joystick.
Rebel Assault 2 is better but still suffers from the same issue.
I fired up Rebel Assault this morning. (The series has come up recently, and then I had listened to the start of the NPR Star Wars radio drama)
Blown away with how easy and short the first 2 chapters are. Man, those were tougher as a kid with a CH Flightstick.
Last time I played Rebel Assault 1 I came to the conclusion that it's basically unplayable. Some of the levels control easier with the mouse, some control easier with the keyboard, some control easier with a joystick.
Rebel Assault 2 is better but still suffers from the same issue.
On the first game, it seems like controlling with the gamepad is the best. You have to tap the directions like you do in some racing games.
I was going to say the only thing I know about Ultima Underworld is that it's crazy influential, a shared ancestor of inspiration for Immersive Sims, Soulslikes, open world RPGs, etc.
But after googling to confirm, apparently there's an ancestor another step up to get Soulslikes in there, because King's Field was actually inspired by Wizardry (which was part of the recipe for Ultima Underworld)?
Parasite Eve 2 PS1 - Started as a 4/5, about 2ish hours in went to a 2/5. The game feels so small and it's just relentless back and forth backtracking in small areas. I dropped it, I just stopped having fun.
Beast Wars PS1 - Holy shit this a horrid, this was a throwback to replay the first game I rented when I got my PS1 It was bad then its worse now. 1/5 dropped it in 30 mins
Fighting Force PS1 - Mediocre but not awful PS1 beat em up, clunky but serviceable and fairly short 3/5
Iron Man & X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal PS1 - Always wanted to play this as a kid seeing adverts in magazines. Man this is just a pain to even control dropped it after 15 mins 1/5
Games in play rotation
Battletanx N64 - Just started but I really remember enjoying this as a kid.
Street Fighter Alpha 3 PS1 - mostly just goofin around with World Tour mode, may switch to the PSP version, really dig the loading screen art tho and the rest of the presentation is off the charts.
Chocobo's Dungeon 2 PS1 really enjoyed it as a kid and I see why its fun and charming.
my testing of Streets of Rage 2 turned into me getting to the end of stage 5 and dying at the boss. Fun as fuck even now despite never having played it before, banger soundtrack.
Now I just need to give it a 2nd round with the Goo Gone to get what I assume is the 30-odd year old remnants of a rental sticker gunking up the back of the cartridge.
Parasite Eve 2 PS1 - Started as a 4/5, about 2ish hours in went to a 2/5. The game feels so small and it's just relentless back and forth backtracking in small areas. I dropped it, I just stopped having fun.
Beast Wars PS1 - Holy shit this a horrid, this was a throwback to replay the first game I rented when I got my PS1 It was bad then its worse now. 1/5 dropped it in 30 mins
Fighting Force PS1 - Mediocre but not awful PS1 beat em up, clunky but serviceable and fairly short 3/5
Iron Man & X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal PS1 - Always wanted to play this as a kid seeing adverts in magazines. Man this is just a pain to even control dropped it after 15 mins 1/5
Games in play rotation
Battletanx N64 - Just started but I really remember enjoying this as a kid.
Street Fighter Alpha 3 PS1 - mostly just goofin around with World Tour mode, may switch to the PSP version, really dig the loading screen art tho and the rest of the presentation is off the charts.
Chocobo's Dungeon 2 PS1 really enjoyed it as a kid and I see why its fun and charming.
If you aren’t playing local versus mode the psp version of SFA 3 is vastly superior to the ps1. Its a shame they never released it for a console that could do local vs mode.
RetroAchievements emailed me a Year In Review, which was cool:
Congratulations SteevL!
In 2024, you played 50 games on retroachievements.org and unlocked 945 achievements, earning you 5643 hardcore points. You submitted new scores for 104 leaderboards.
You spent 304 hours playing games across 7 systems. 160 hours of that were playing GameCube games.
You mastered 8 games, and beat 19 games on hardcore.
Your most played game was Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door at 94 hours.
Your rarest achievement earned was You missed something from Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III, which has only been earned in hardcore by 0.82% of players.
You made 3 forum posts and 11 game comments.
I spent a lot more time playing older games than I thought! It's still throwing me that Gamecube is retro now.
RetroAchievements emailed me a Year In Review, which was cool:
Congratulations SteevL!
In 2024, you played 50 games on retroachievements.org and unlocked 945 achievements, earning you 5643 hardcore points. You submitted new scores for 104 leaderboards.
You spent 304 hours playing games across 7 systems. 160 hours of that were playing GameCube games.
You mastered 8 games, and beat 19 games on hardcore.
Your most played game was Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door at 94 hours.
Your rarest achievement earned was You missed something from Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III, which has only been earned in hardcore by 0.82% of players.
You made 3 forum posts and 11 game comments.
I spent a lot more time playing older games than I thought! It's still throwing me that Gamecube is retro now.
I feel like PS2 and gamecube are over the line for me. Relatively early gen games like FFX and Wind waker feel decidedly modern to me, and late generation games like FF 12 and Twilight princess even moreso.
Like if you put in FF7 or Ocarina of time vs those games there’s just a massive difference in how they come across, even on original hardware.
On the other hand, ps2 and gamecube are almost 25 years old, so…
RetroAchievements emailed me a Year In Review, which was cool:
Congratulations SteevL!
In 2024, you played 50 games on retroachievements.org and unlocked 945 achievements, earning you 5643 hardcore points. You submitted new scores for 104 leaderboards.
You spent 304 hours playing games across 7 systems. 160 hours of that were playing GameCube games.
You mastered 8 games, and beat 19 games on hardcore.
Your most played game was Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door at 94 hours.
Your rarest achievement earned was You missed something from Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III, which has only been earned in hardcore by 0.82% of players.
You made 3 forum posts and 11 game comments.
I spent a lot more time playing older games than I thought! It's still throwing me that Gamecube is retro now.
I feel like PS2 and gamecube are over the line for me. Relatively early gen games like FFX and Wind waker feel decidedly modern to me, and late generation games like FF 12 and Twilight princess even moreso.
Like if you put in FF7 or Ocarina of time vs those games there’s just a massive difference in how they come across, even on original hardware.
On the other hand, ps2 and gamecube are almost 25 years old, so…
Yeah, that's the thing; NES and SNES games felt retro to me already in the PS2/Gamecube era. We're now further from the PS2/Gamecube era than that era was from the height of the 8- and 16-bit eras. So why not consider them retro now?
I really don't want to define "retro" as "actively held back by the technology or design theory at the time in ways that more recent games weren't", but it does feel kind of accurate.
I really don't want to define "retro" as "actively held back by the technology or design theory at the time in ways that more recent games weren't", but it does feel kind of accurate.
I'm trying to think of any games you played where you didn't need hands before the Eye Toy/Kinect came out and all I can think of is Dance Dance Revolution in 2000.
Posts
Welcome to the internet!
My Backloggery
But I to to the Internet to find people who agree with me! PA taught me that.
Steam: betsuni7
Edit: Here it is! https://www.moddb.com/mods/vtmb-unofficial-patch
For a while there, one of the fan patchers went a little nutty and was revising the game way too much.
https://co8.org/community/forums/download-central.90/
As a new deck owner who has mainly been playing on the switch for the last 7 years I feel this deeply. Sure I can play BG1 or 2 on the deck, but it will probably be more enjoyable getting those on the Switch where I can play from the couch. Another example being Diablo 3 which has excellent console controls that have never been an option on PC.
Blown away with how easy and short the first 2 chapters are. Man, those were tougher as a kid with a CH Flightstick.
Steam ID: Good Life
I wish there was a way to turn it off in the first game.
Is there one yet that only fixes the bugs and doesn’t add a bunch of shit and/or changes a bunch of number values and stuff? That was my frustration with even the basic patch last I used it…like seven years ago.
It has a basic patch that fixes just the bugs, but it suspect that it also alters some stats in the game.
The author was that same author that got carried away with the changes. It sounds like he reeled it back in.
I remember it was a pain in the ass to play with a mouse.
Still, that's why the Deck has those trackpads. Between them and Steam Input, they cover a multitude of sins.
But yeah, the option for bespoke controls/UI would be nice, when they already exist elsewhere.
Steam | XBL
I recently tried the patch that changes and adds a bunch of things. The things I noticed are pretty pointless.
The Anarch bar has everyone moved around. Skelter and Damsel are swapped and Jack is now on the other side of the stairs on the first floor.
Just...why? What purpose does this serve? It's change for the sake of change.
Last time I played Rebel Assault 1 I came to the conclusion that it's basically unplayable. Some of the levels control easier with the mouse, some control easier with the keyboard, some control easier with a joystick.
Rebel Assault 2 is better but still suffers from the same issue.
On the first game, it seems like controlling with the gamepad is the best. You have to tap the directions like you do in some racing games.
It really shows how good Lucasarts are at making games. The games are from the WinXP days and they still work right.
Steam ID: Good Life
That is one of the very first fan-translated games I played!
I've still never beaten it.
My Backloggery
I thought I remembered Pit Droids. Looked it up and yeah, I had a copy somewhere. That was one fun game.
Steam: betsuni7
I still have my save from the first time I played it (in 99, the PS1 port), forever stuck underleveled on the fire ship.
Do... Re... Mi... So... Fa.... Do... Re.... Do...
Forget it...
But after googling to confirm, apparently there's an ancestor another step up to get Soulslikes in there, because King's Field was actually inspired by Wizardry (which was part of the recipe for Ultima Underworld)?
Parasite Eve 2 PS1 - Started as a 4/5, about 2ish hours in went to a 2/5. The game feels so small and it's just relentless back and forth backtracking in small areas. I dropped it, I just stopped having fun.
Beast Wars PS1 - Holy shit this a horrid, this was a throwback to replay the first game I rented when I got my PS1 It was bad then its worse now. 1/5 dropped it in 30 mins
Fighting Force PS1 - Mediocre but not awful PS1 beat em up, clunky but serviceable and fairly short 3/5
Iron Man & X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal PS1 - Always wanted to play this as a kid seeing adverts in magazines. Man this is just a pain to even control dropped it after 15 mins 1/5
Games in play rotation
Battletanx N64 - Just started but I really remember enjoying this as a kid.
Street Fighter Alpha 3 PS1 - mostly just goofin around with World Tour mode, may switch to the PSP version, really dig the loading screen art tho and the rest of the presentation is off the charts.
Chocobo's Dungeon 2 PS1 really enjoyed it as a kid and I see why its fun and charming.
Now I just need to give it a 2nd round with the Goo Gone to get what I assume is the 30-odd year old remnants of a rental sticker gunking up the back of the cartridge.
Do... Re... Mi... So... Fa.... Do... Re.... Do...
Forget it...
I dunno why this just hit me but yeah, in a lot of old rpgs you can actually game over yourself.
Hell I managed to do that on my first WoW character in 2005. But then someone gave me 2g 😅
If you aren’t playing local versus mode the psp version of SFA 3 is vastly superior to the ps1. Its a shame they never released it for a console that could do local vs mode.
I spent a lot more time playing older games than I thought! It's still throwing me that Gamecube is retro now.
My Backloggery
I feel like PS2 and gamecube are over the line for me. Relatively early gen games like FFX and Wind waker feel decidedly modern to me, and late generation games like FF 12 and Twilight princess even moreso.
Like if you put in FF7 or Ocarina of time vs those games there’s just a massive difference in how they come across, even on original hardware.
On the other hand, ps2 and gamecube are almost 25 years old, so…
Yeah, that's the thing; NES and SNES games felt retro to me already in the PS2/Gamecube era. We're now further from the PS2/Gamecube era than that era was from the height of the 8- and 16-bit eras. So why not consider them retro now?
My Backloggery
I remember this looking more impressive back in the day.