Kachou hata!
For me, Retro Game Challenge has a particular significance. To be honest, I never truly quit playing old games. I still sometimes used my Super Nintendo while I had my Gamecube, but 2009 was the year when the term "retro gamer" became popular. I don't really think of myself as a "retro gamer" since I play current games just as often. I like to think of myself as chrono-agnostic. In any case, the persona gave me a feeling of uniqueness and caused me to consider my gaming habits.However, I would fall in love with Game Center CX, a Japanese show, years later. It was my introduction to the world of Japanese video games and culture, following comedian Shinya Arino as he made an effort to finish classic titles with his limited abilities. Before long, I had my own Famicom and could read Japanese with the understanding skills of a golden retriever.
I bring up Game Center CX because, despite the fact that nobody here actually knew anything about the program, we received one of the games based on it. That would be translated as Retro Game Challenge, and even if the show's name would be gone, the essence of playing games the way we did in the '80s would always remain. Not me, that is. I was too young to recall the 1980s.
Retro Game Challenge is essentially an assemblage of eight games that seem like they were taken from out of Famicom cartridges, but are in fact entirely original works. Each game has a set of objectives that you must fulfill in order to move on to the next. Though there are many tips and shortcuts to help you get through to the finish line more quickly, all of the games may be finished (and they must be if you want to finish the game).The games begin with effectively Galaga and go on to a bizarre mashup of \i>Ninja Gaiden and Metroid, which is like reliving the Famicom's glory days in their early years. There are a fair variety of genres represented, including a JRPG in the vein of Dragon Quest 3.
That alone wouldn't be all that spectacular, but nostalgia comes bundled with it. You are propelled from the future into the 1980s, where you adopt a child's perspective. With the aid of his younger self, you must defeat the monster that sent you back. Thus, you both settle down in front of the TV and spend the day basking in its cathode light. After you complete a few tasks, your buddy returns with a magazine that features forthcoming games and gives you cheat codes for the ones you've previously played. That is an outstanding dedication to recreating the period.
The only fissure in its exterior is its increased dedication to replicating the Japanese '80s culture. Tatami flooring are even present in the living room, and the console resembles a Famicom in many ways. The focus on "hidden characters" and other mysteries is one of the main ways it varies from a Western '80s experience. Because many Japanese youngsters enjoyed gossiping and trading tricks, cryptic games like Milon's Secret Castle have been created. These were riddles that a society would have to solve. Over here, that kind of stuff never really took off.
One of the games you play is a sponsored special version of a game you've played before, which is another joke in the game. Although it seems like a cop-out to pad the game, Rally King SP is a tougher and somewhat remixed version of Rally King. If we had seen the phenomena of reskinning games with a commercial slant in the west, this might have been more forgiven, but I can't think of a single occasion when it occurred here. In the meanwhile, there were Nebulus adaptations using the Chocoball mascot in Japan, such as Kyorochan Land, and games like All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros based on the radio program.
The game also employs the humor of "beat the game a second time but harder to get the real ending," which is something I find incredibly offensive. When Ghosts N Goblins did it, it wasn't hilarious. You may completely disregard that business.
Another event that honors video games that didn't quite take off as much in Japan is the Retro Game Challenge. Star Prince is basically Star Soldier, which gained immense popularity in Japan, partly due to Toshiyuki Takahashi's usage of it to showcase his 16-second fire button press feat, propelling him to the status of video game superstar.
In addition, when Final Fantasy VII for the Playstation was released, the JRPG genre was not well-liked in North America. As a result, even if Dragon Quest 3 was a uniting experience in its native nation, Enix and Nintendo were scarcely able to introduce the game to the West.
I was too young to be playing video games in the 1980s, so for me, that kind of stuff didn't truly damage the experience. However, if you're a Western player seeking some nostalgia, the selection of games will make it less intense. Reenactments of \i>The Legend of Zelda, Rad Racer, and Double Dragon may be the main emphasis of a North American version.Additionally, retro gaming has changed from what it once was. Large portions of historical libraries are now covered by compilations and individual releases, although in 2009, the selection was still narrow and highly selected. As previously said, my identity as a vintage gamer was still forming. Old cartridges might be bought at a low cost. It was a fresh notion to create a game that attempted to recreate the atmosphere of the 1980s. Currently, however, a lot of games attempt to mimic the feeling, whether it's via scanlines, pixel graphics, or compilations like \i>198X.Retro Game Challenge, on the other hand, is a sincere and effective effort at this. Beyond just showcasing a range of fresh games using antiquated design principles, it endeavors to transport you to that historical period, maybe even your early years. If anything, it serves as an excellent example of how things have evolved.Regretfully, Retro Game Challenge did not do well in the marketplace at a period when specialized games were still having trouble meeting rigidly demanding standards. Because of the previous one's apparent failure, Xseed decided not to localize its sequel. That's too bad, since the sequel builds on the previous game's concept to create a bundle that is even more potent. A third game was available for the 3DS, but from what I've heard, it's not as amazing. I still feel empty within for not having played it.We were fortunate to get Retro Game Challenge at all, I suppose. Xseed was taking a chance on it, given that it was based on a program that hadn't yet made it to our shores. Still, playing a game that honored the period I clung to in 2009 felt validated. Older video games are just everlasting representations of the times they represent, not necessarily worse than the ones we play now. Only a portion of their tale can be told by playing them on contemporary consoles; the rest is attempted to be told via games such as Retro Game Challenge.Click straight here to see more classic games you may have missed!