Retro Games Evaluation

1st Generation game:

"Hockey" for the Magnavox Odyssey

Visually limited to black and white colour.
Two player game in which each player controls two lines with paddle controllers and tries to score on the opponents side. Movement was only up and down.

Although the game was very basic, it was an extremely challenging game especially due to the competition between players.

Reference:

Benjamin Esh. (1977). Benjamin Esh. [Online Video]. 30 June 2008. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMhuysQIrzE. [Accessed: 07 March 2015].

2nd Generation game:

 "Task Force" for the Atari 2600

Compared to the previous generation, this game has much more colours and a higher resolution.
The game is played alone (single player). The player controls the cross hair on screen to target and fire upon the gangsters with the use of the eight way directional controller with button. The game also presented some movement from the characters on screen as animation.

Reference:


Highretrogamelord. (1978). Task Force for the Atari 2600 . [Online Video]. 29 July 2010. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC-djsxhoCk. [Accessed: 07 March 2015].


3rd Generation game:


"Action Fighter" for the Sega Master System 1986

 
This game is a vertical scrolling game in which the player has to drive along obstacles and shoot at other vehicles to power up. Gameplay takes place on land (street) and in the air. The game featured a timer which when hit zero, its game over. The game allowed the player to enter his/her name before each attempt. The game also saved the high score for each attempt (until the master system is turned off). 

Unlike previous generations, gameplay is not limited to a static screen. In this game, the background (play area) is constantly moving downwards to move the character forward.

Reference:


Action Fighter - Sega Retro. 2015. Action Fighter - Sega Retro. [ONLINE] Available at: http://segaretro.org/Action_Fighter. [Accessed 10 May 2015].



4th Generation game:


"Altered Beast" for the Sega Mega Drive 1988


"Altered beast" is an action side scrolling game in which the player controls a warrior which is tasked with retrieving the daughter of Zeus who has been captured by an evil wizard. The player could dispatch enemy by hitting them with punched and kicks. Enemies dropped "orbs" which when collected will visually increase the muscle mass of the character. When three orbs are picked up, the character transforms into a beast (depending on the level played). While in beast form, the character is stronger and able to face the level boss.

This game featured distinct different levels with different beasts. Compared to previous generations, the 2D sprites have much more detail.

Reference:

Altered Beast - Sega Retro. 2015. Altered Beast - Sega Retro. [ONLINE] Available at: http://segaretro.org/Altered_Beast. [Accessed 10 May 2015].


5th Generation game:

"Klonoa: Door to Phantomile" for the Sony PlayStation 1998



This game is an action - adventure 2.5D side-scroller.  It utilises true 3D graphics for the buildings, platforms and characters whilst 2D graphics are used for trees flowers etc. In this game, you control the main character (Klonoa) which with the help of his friend has to kidnappers of their town's songstress.
The player can move left or right and can jump. Klonoa can also zap enemies with his ring and use them as projectiles or boost his jumping distance. This game has many colourful and diverse levels and enemies along with tricky boss fights. It also gets increasingly challenging as the player progresses.

reference:

Klonoa: Door to Phantomile Review - GameSpot. 2015. Klonoa: Door to Phantomile Review - GameSpot. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/klonoa-review/1900-2545986/. [Accessed 13 May 2015].



6th generation game:

"Shadow of the Colossus" for the Sony PlayStation 2 2005




Shadow of the Colossus is an 3rd person action adventure game which utilises true 3D graphics. In this game, you control a boy named Wander and you have to search this vast forbidden land with your horse until you find a colossus. The horse riding simulation of this game is very good. You can really feel the horse's response to the controls.
Each colossus requires a different tactic to destroy. The majority of the colossi are gigantic compared to you and you will need to climb on top of them and hit their weak spot. A deep sense of solitude is conveyed through this game. This is due to the minimalistic environments and the use of subtle ambient music.

reference:

Shadow of the Colossus Review - IGN. 2015. Shadow of the Colossus Review - IGN. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/10/17/shadow-of-the-colossus-review. [Accessed 17 May 2015].

7th generation game:

"Killer is Dead" for the Sony PlayStation 3 2013


"Killer is Dead" is a third person action game developed by "Grasshopper Manufacture" and "Kadokawa Games". This game uses 3D filled graphics with a cell shaded style to make it look like an anime or comic Japanese comic. In this game the player controls an assassin named "Mondo Zappa" who is appointed execution missions which will pit the player against many enemies. The gameplay is very fast paced and the player will be able to use quick sword attacks, heavy arm attacks and will also be able to use the gun attachment on his arm to shoot at enemies as well. The different levels in the game vary considerably and will keep the player interested and on edge until the end.
This game is considered by critics to be very strange and over the top and to be a spiritual successor to the game Killer 7 (PS2).

references:

. 2015. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.loveandkill.com/uk/world/introduction.html. [Accessed 23 May 2015].
Killer Is Dead for PlayStation 3 Reviews - Metacritic. 2015. Killer Is Dead for PlayStation 3 Reviews - Metacritic. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/killer-is-dead. [Accessed 23 May 2015].


8th generation game:

"Killzone: Shadow fall" for the Sony PlayStation 4 2013



"Killzone: Shadow Fall" is a first person shooter (FPS) which put the player in the shoes of Marshal Lucas Kellen. The game is set in an alternate future where a humanoid alien race called the "Helghast" want to live on earth as well and so there is conflict between humans and helghast. This game attempts to be as realistic looking as possible along with very good physics as well. The player makes also use of the touch screen present on the DualShock4 to instruct the "OWL" (a small flying robot assistant" to perform specific actions. The in built speaker of the controller is also used when the player listens to an audio log in game. The graphics in this game a stunning and the game maintains a very smooth 60fps frame rate.

reference:

Killzone: Shadow Fall Review - IGN. 2015. Killzone: Shadow Fall Review - IGN. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/11/13/killzone-shadow-fall-review. [Accessed 24 May 2015].