AL82 Retrogaming Longplays | Salamander Longplay (Arcade) [QHD] @AL82RetrogamingLongplays | Uploaded 8 months ago | Updated 2 hours ago
Game Info
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Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Year of Release: 1986
Game Review & Impressions
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Developed a spin-off to Gradius, Salamander is quite the looker for 1986. In a world where R-Type was yet to be released, this would have been one of the best shoot 'em ups on the market at the time.
While it retains the visual style of its predecessor and similar gameplay, the ship weapon and power-up system is more conventional. Weapons are loaded directly on to your ship as you collect the components, rather than requiring the player to collect multiple power-up tokens and make a choice as to which power they want to equip. Personally, I always preferred this more simplistic approach to power-ups, so it gets a thumbs up from me.
The other major improvement here is the graphical fidelity. Gradius was released only a year prior to Salamander, but the former looks positively ancient compared to the latter. Salamander boasts some exceptionally beautiful graphics for the time, with colours and animation that pop right off modern LCD screens, so one can only imagine what it must have looked like with true CRT phosphor glow in a dimly-lit arcade.
According to Games Machine magazine, Salamander was the second most popular arcade machine for August 1986. It's not difficult to see why.
Chapters
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00:00 Attract mode
01:05 Stage 1
03:30 Stage 2
05:40 Stage 3
07:33 Stage 4
09:45 Stage 5
11:46 Stage 6
15:20 Ending
Game Info
---------------------------------------------------
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Year of Release: 1986
Game Review & Impressions
---------------------------------------------------
Developed a spin-off to Gradius, Salamander is quite the looker for 1986. In a world where R-Type was yet to be released, this would have been one of the best shoot 'em ups on the market at the time.
While it retains the visual style of its predecessor and similar gameplay, the ship weapon and power-up system is more conventional. Weapons are loaded directly on to your ship as you collect the components, rather than requiring the player to collect multiple power-up tokens and make a choice as to which power they want to equip. Personally, I always preferred this more simplistic approach to power-ups, so it gets a thumbs up from me.
The other major improvement here is the graphical fidelity. Gradius was released only a year prior to Salamander, but the former looks positively ancient compared to the latter. Salamander boasts some exceptionally beautiful graphics for the time, with colours and animation that pop right off modern LCD screens, so one can only imagine what it must have looked like with true CRT phosphor glow in a dimly-lit arcade.
According to Games Machine magazine, Salamander was the second most popular arcade machine for August 1986. It's not difficult to see why.
Chapters
---------------------------------------------------
00:00 Attract mode
01:05 Stage 1
03:30 Stage 2
05:40 Stage 3
07:33 Stage 4
09:45 Stage 5
11:46 Stage 6
15:20 Ending
![Salamander Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2jDwlXFxlQk/hqdefault.jpg "Salamander Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Year of Release: 1986
Game Review & Impressions
Developed a spin-off to Gradius, Salamander is quite the looker for 1986. In a world where R-Type was yet to be released, this would have been one of the best shoot em ups on the market at the time.
While it retains the visual style of its predecessor and similar gameplay, the ship weapon and power-up system is more conventional. Weapons are loaded directly on to your ship as you collect the components, rather than requiring the player to collect multiple power-up tokens and make a choice as to which power they want to equip. Personally, I always preferred this more simplistic approach to power-ups, so it gets a thumbs up from me.
The other major improvement here is the graphical fidelity. Gradius was released only a year prior to Salamander, but the former looks positively ancient compared to the latter. Salamander boasts some exceptionally beautiful graphics for the time, with colours and animation that pop right off modern LCD screens, so one can only imagine what it must have looked like with true CRT phosphor glow in a dimly-lit arcade.
According to Games Machine magazine, Salamander was the second most popular arcade machine for August 1986. Its not difficult to see why.
Chapters
00:00 Attract mode
01:05 Stage 1
03:30 Stage 2
05:40 Stage 3
07:33 Stage 4
09:45 Stage 5
11:46 Stage 6
15:20 Ending")
![Crazy Cars III Longplay (Amiga) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2o9cg-GDuZg/hqdefault.jpg "Crazy Cars III Longplay (Amiga) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Titus Software
Publisher: Titus Software
Year of Release: 1992
Game Review & Impressions
The last of what Id consider the big three when it comes to racing games on the Amiga, Crazy Cars III is the third entry in the much maligned series. Given that the first two games were so poorly received, its surprising Titus didnt jettison the Crazy Cars brand from the outset. They eventually rebranded and relaunched the game under the moniker Lamborghini: American Challenge in 1993, throwing in a multiplayer mode for good measure. However, Crazy Cars III is the original incarnation and the version I owned, so I wanted to longplay this version first.
The objective of the game is to compete in a series of head-to-head races across the United States, earning cash to enter additional races, upgrade your vehicle, and purchase an entry pass into the divisional championship race. Starting in division 4 and ending in division 1, youll need supreme driving skills and a hot-rod to match, as you take on championship competitors, local petrolheads, not to mention state police and highway patrol cars ready to pounce on anyone breaking the speed limit. Entering a race featuring named drivers gives you a chance to earn extra cash by betting cash on wholl come first. Opponents will be less inclined to throw down bets if your ride is tricked out with all the upgrades, but bagging the pot is a nice top-up to whatever winnings you earn from the race itself.
The cycle of winning races to earn cash to upgrade your car is pretty addictive, and theres considerable variety in the number of races to enter, environments to drive, and hazards to encounter. The underlying racing engine and controls are excellent, equal to the best on the Amiga, although the way your car drifts through corners takes some getting used to. Its also a bit of a slow-burn - it isnt until youve unlocked better tyres and faster top speed that the game really comes into its own; the game is a real blast from division 3 onward.
Although Lotus Turbo Challenge 2 remains the pinnacle of Amiga driving games in terms of refinement, Crazy Cars III has the most longevity by far. It looks great, runs exceptionally well on a 1MB A500, and is just brilliant fun. Watch closely, and youll notice the horizon raise pixel-by-pixel as you progress through each race, conveying the sense that youre actually getting closer to whatever is in the distance; an exceptionally neat touch. Being saddled with the Crazy Cars brand was a complete disservice to one of the best racing games on the machine - its a technically accomplished title, up there with the best of them - go play it!
Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:45 Division 4
46:36 Division 3
1:14:11 Division 2
1:39:21 Division 1
2:05:42 Final race
2:07:01 Ending")
![Dream Soccer 94 Longplay (Arcade) [4K]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3JcDTy8WFNw/hqdefault.jpg "Dream Soccer 94 Longplay (Arcade) [4K]
Game Info
Developer: Irem
Publisher: Irem
Year of Release: 1994
Game Review & Impressions
I recorded this over two years ago and just never got around to publishing it, but I guess better late than never. Dream Soccer 94 is one of a slew of football coin-op games to be released during the early 90s, and this particular title is the handywork of R-Type creator, Irem.
If Im honest, this feels somewhat redundant in the wake of FIFA International Soccer. The graphics are reasonable enough, but I dont really see the appeal of this when compared to Electronic Arts all-conquering footie game. In fact, the general presentation, ability to choose formations and player strategies certainly feel as though they were inspired by FIFA.
Does Dream Soccer have any original features? Theres a special move system that allows strikers to power up, enabling power strikes, and its possible to channel your inner Cantona by fouling the heck out opposition players, booting the them in the chest or head!
Really, Ive never been the target audience for football and sports games in general. Dream Soccer gets the basics right, but its not really the game for me.
Chapters
TBC")
![Undercover Cops Longplay (Arcade) [4K]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3PzMPOfysYo/hqdefault.jpg "Undercover Cops Longplay (Arcade) [4K]
Game Info
Developer: Irem
Publisher: Irem
Year of Release: 1992
Game Review & Impressions
I recorded this a few years back, uploaded it and then totally forgot about it, but I guess better late than never! Undercover Cops is a sensationally good-looking beat em up, featuring pixel art by, I suspect, the same artist who worked on In the Hunt and Metal Slug. In fact, for 1992, I might go as far as saying this is best-in-class for visuals, at least in this genre. The world and enemy design has a grimy, post apocalyptic vibe to it; I feel inclined to get a tetanus booster just looking at it!
As for the gameplay, its not bad. Its your typical side-scrolling brawler, featuring everything youd expect. including combos, grapples, specials, collectible weapons, and, of course, pavement food. It doesnt beat The Punisher for sheer, unadulterated fun, but its still worth playing.
Chapters
TBC")
![Eliminate Down Longplay (Sega Genesis) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3cjnvQ-A39k/hqdefault.jpg "Eliminate Down Longplay (Sega Genesis) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Aprinet
Publisher: Soft Vision International
Year of Release: 1993
Game Review & Impressions
The Sega Genesis had some pretty innovative shoot em ups on the system, and Eliminate Down is something Id consider a hidden gem.
Hidden, in the sense Id never heard of this before, the game is very much based on the standard horizontal shooter template, but the graphics, presentation and overall technical implementation are exemplary. The general aesthetic of the enemies and level design is super cool, and rather creepy - I dont think Ive ever played anything quite like this.
The fact the game includes built-in autofire makes this an absolute pleasure to play.
Chapters
TBC")
![Top Gear Pocket 2 Longplay (Game Boy Color) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/41nN9i7y2_0/hqdefault.jpg "Top Gear Pocket 2 Longplay (Game Boy Color) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Kemco
Publisher: Vatical Entertainment
Year of Release: 1999/2000
Game Review & Impressions
I love a good 2D racing game, so I was keen to check out Top Gear Pocket 2 when I saw its impressive visuals on the Game Boy Color. I wasnt sure exactly what to expect, but crisp visuals and speedy scrolling certainly gave me high hopes.
The game offers two modes of play: individual races, or championship mode. The latter is the focus of this video, which is set over 8 seasons of 4 races, 32 in total. Each race takes involves 3 to four laps around a track, with the aim of overtaking opponent drivers to reach 1st place. The higher your finishing position, the more points you earn to spend on upgrading your car in the garage between events, or spend on a new vehicle entirely.
From a technical perspective, this is a really good 2D racer, especially when you consider the platform its running on. The scrolling and rolling road routine is very effective, equally as good as variants found during the 16-bit era.
Less impressive, however, is the gameplay, which is just far too shallow. The number of tracks on offer is pretty low, and they all play out identically, with little in the way of anything Id describe as emergent gameplay. The CPU cars all deliberately get in your face as soon as they appear on screen, and most tracks, save for the ice stages, can be taken at full tilt, giving scant regard for corners.
The upgrade system, such as it is, seems somewhat pointless. No matter how well I drove, there came a point in each season where I simply couldnt reach 1st place by the races end, forcing me to invest in another top speed upgrade to remain competitive. Given the cost of these increases exponentially, it leaves little left to upgrade other stats, and putting any points into brakes is just a complete waste.
I came away from Top Gear Pocket 2 feeling pretty underwhelmed. The racing is just really rather bland, and recycling the same old courses repeatedly just got old very quickly. It looks great, but there simply isnt enough meat on the bones of this racer to make much in the way of a recommendation.
Chapters
TBC")
![Mortal Kombat Longplay (Arcade) [4K]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/44JmDop2By4/hqdefault.jpg "Mortal Kombat Longplay (Arcade) [4K]
Game Info
Developer: Midway
Publisher: Midway
Year of Release: 1992
Game Review & Impressions
Im pretty sure everyone is well aware by now of the Mortal Kombat franchise, given the succession of releases under the custodianship of NetherRealm Studios.
The versus fighter became an instant hit with gamers, thanks to its use of digitised actors and, for the time, blood-thirsty fatalities, and became a thorn in the side of Congress, governments and moral arbiters in general for precisely the same reason.
Looking back, the fatalities are laughably tame and the blood little more than oversized blobs of digital ketchup, but for 1992, this would have been the edgiest thing a teenage gaming audience could have wished for. The combat never lived up to Street Fighter II, but theres no denying that John Tobias, Ed Boon and the rest of the team captured lightning in a bottle as far as presentation and aesthetics are concerned.
Much of the excitement surrounding the game was the fact it contained numerous secrets and hidden features. The fatalities were just the tip of the iceberg, with a secret fight against Reptile in a spike-filled pit waiting to be discovered.
Overall, the original MK is still a pretty decent game, although one improved upon by its successors. It was always a little more style over substance, but I wouldnt have it any other way.
Video Notes
- Includes Reptile hidden fight (see timestamps)
Chapters
00:00 Character bios
02:14 Character select
02:27 Sub-Zero Vs. Scorpion
03:14 Sub-Zero Vs. Liu Kang
04:04 Sub-Zero Vs. Sonya Blade
04:55 Test Your Might 1
05:06 Sub-Zero Vs. Johnny Cage
06:13 Sub-Zero Vs. Reptile (Secret Character)
07:15 Sub-Zero Vs. Kano
08:06 Sub-Zero Vs. Raiden
08:58 Test Your Might 2
09:08 Mirror Match
09:58 Endurance 1
11:16 Endurance 2
12:44 Test Your Might 3
12:57 Endurance 3
14:20 Sub-Serzo Vs. Goro
15:37 Sub-Serzo Vs. Shang Tsung
16:51 Ending
19:34 Bonus: Fatalities")
![Kid Klown in Crazy Chase Longplay (SNES) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/44NPi9jSC2A/hqdefault.jpg "Kid Klown in Crazy Chase Longplay (SNES) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Kemco
Publisher: Kemco
Year of Release: 1994
Game Review & Impressions
I always had a soft spot for this clown-based obstacle em up from Kemco. The graphics, animation and the attention to detail therein are simply wonderful, lending the game a real sense of charm.
Its also not the first time Ive longplayed the game. My original play-through wasnt exactly ideal, chiefly because I used the 50 Hz PAL version and only covered the normal difficulty setting. This recording uses the 60 Hz version and includes the tougher difficulty level, including full end credits and a couple of other scenes exclusive to this particular mode.
As for the game itself, Kid Klown, all round dogsbody and lackey to one King Klown, must help rescue said royal highnesss daughter, Princess Honey, who has been kidnapped by Blackjack, nefarious space pirate. Kid sets off in pursuit of Blackjack, who has paved the way with all manner of bombs, traps and other shenanigans to foil our heros rescue attempts.
Each stage starts with Blackjack planting an enormous bomb at the end, trailing the fuse cord back to the start line. Kid must race against the fizzing fuse, collecting coins, power-ups and, more importantly, special ace symbols secreted in balloons found floating around the course. To get the best ending, Kid must collect all four aces on the first attempt, for which hell be awarded a Honey Heart. Earning all possible hearts will win the eternal love and affection of Princess Honey, should he manage to reach the end of the game.
There is, however, one final sting in the tail that players might not be expecting. Beating a stage will also reward Kid with a golden key, an item whose use only becomes apparent when all 5 stage are complete. Honey is cooped up in a cramped cell with a series of locks, only one of which will unlock the actual cage. Kid has 5 attempts to find the correct lock, with the others decreasing the timer on a final, explosive surprise left behind by Blackjack.
Kid Klown in Crazy Chase is a wonderfully slapstick caper that still looks gorgeous and is great fun to play - go check it out.
Video Notes
Includes normal and hard difficulty modes
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:30 Stage 1 (Normal)
05:47 Bonus Game
06:37 Stage 2 (Normal)
10:50 Bonus Game
13:04 Stage 3 (Normal)
15:55 Bonus Game
16:28 Stage 4 (Normal)
20:21 Bonus Game
21:23 Stage 5 (Normal)
25:07 Ending (Normal)
27:01 Stage 1 (Hard)
30:00 Bonus Game
30:42 Stage 2 (Hard)
34:22 Bonus Game
35:06 Stage 3 (Hard)
37:49 Stage 4 (Hard)
41:18 Bonus Game
42:24 Stage 5 (Hard)
45:57 Ending (hard)
50:17 Bad Ending 1 (Honey Blown Up)
51:21 Bad Ending 2 (Missed Honey Hearts)
#kidclown #snes #longplay")
![Red Heat Longplay (Amiga) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4K8skZOcewI/hqdefault.jpg "Red Heat Longplay (Amiga) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Special FX
Publisher: Ocean
Year of Release: 1989
Game Review & Impressions
How time flies. I covered the C64 version of Red Heat almost a decade ago, which proved to be a laughably awful beat em up of sorts with burly brown men duking it out in the nude.
The Amiga version is basically identical to the all the other versions, with the exception that it looks prettier. It retains the narrow game window where only the top half of the characters are displayed, and the gameplay involves little more than repeatedly punching bad guys when they appear. Unlike the C64 port, Danko actually gets to use a gun in later levels, as do most of the enemies, but its the same crap game with better visuals.
On the subject of which, the graphics ARE genuinely impressive. The move to 16-bit definitely gave resident Special FX artist Karen Davies to put her talent to use. The pixelated representation of muscular dudes, particularly those during the sauna stage, are highly detailed, and the on-screen representation of Schwarzenegger is a a good likeness. The backgrounds are almost entirely statics, but theyre highly detailed, with some amusing nuances and designs that add some levity to an otherwise dull and repetitive experience. This is all comes crashing down, however, when you witness the laughable depiction of Belushis Art Ridzik during the briefing sections which preface each level; his mouth and bottom jaw opens and closes in a yapping style reminiscent of South Parks Terrence and Philip, and is so utterly crap that it would have been far better if it had remained a static image.
Sadly, crap sums up the entire game. Kung Fu Master did the same thing 5 years earlier, and you could see the characters legs! In fact, the C64 version is probably the better and more playable version, thanks to the machines support for hardware scrolling. The Amiga version is clearly just another Atari ST port, lumbered with jerky animation and twitchiness, with no specific machine optimisations. Just awful!
Related Longplays
Red Heat (C64) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7KKWEONjLo
Chapters
TBC")
![RoboCop Longplay (NES) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4gWZFdTq0V0/hqdefault.jpg "RoboCop Longplay (NES) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Data East
Publisher: Data East
Year of Release: 1989
Game Review & Impressions
2023 marked the 25th anniversary of the iconic movie starring everyones favourite cyborg law enforcement officer, so I decided to check out RoboCop for the NES to mark this auspicious occasion.
Having played the game, Im really not sure why I bothered. I was a big fan of Data Easts RoboCop arcade game, a solid interpretation of the movie, so I have to wonder what the heck went wrong when they sat down to develop this pile of rubbish for the NES! The game makes cursory nods to the films plot, but youd never know it, because the level graphics and environments barely resemble anything like what was seen on the big screen.
To be honest, the whole game is just one big litany of errors. RoboCop is listed as 6 2, but the enemies only come up to his waist, making them all about 5 tall. The way the dudes in purple pants Kung Fu kick their way out of second storey windows like Eric Cantona is just plain silly, as is the way the game randomly holsters Robos weapon, forcing you to use fisticuffs for no apparent reason. Perhaps the most ridiculous thing in the whole game is the block mechanic, which allows our metal protagonist to protect himself from damage, something which makes me wonder if this started life as some other game entirely. Theres a moment of levity when I realised its possible to make RoboCop Moonwalk backwards down flights of stairs, but like everything else in the game, its just utterly dumb.
Apart from a rather funky remix of the movies theme tune, theres absolutely nothing of merit here. Its a dull slog of a game with bland visuals and zero variety, one that should be consigned to the dumpster and forgotten with immediate effect.
Chapters
00:00 Attract mode
01:40 Stage 1
03:38 Stage 2
06:03 Bonus Stage
07:05 Stage 3
11:43 Stage 4
14:30 Bonus Stage
15:23 Stage 5
18:25 Stage 6
21:30 Ending")
![Treasure Island Dizzy Longplay (Amiga) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5ONldT3ks2o/hqdefault.jpg "Treasure Island Dizzy Longplay (Amiga) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: The Highlanders
Publisher: Codemasters
Year of Release: 1989
Plot from Game Manual
Dizzy was looking forward to the round-the-world cruise. When he told the other Yolkfolk about the good deal he found, they wondered just what lay ahead of him...
Dizzy enjoyed the cruise at first. The captain, Long John Silver, was a lovely old bloke with a kindly manner, good at insulting and degrading the fare paying punters. He was well balanced - he had parrot on one shoulder and a chip on the other. Dizzy thought he would organize a game of
cricket on the aft deck. In a fit of blinding stupidity he used LJs spare leg collection as makeshift stumps, and when they were lost overboard he was made to walk the plank! That was how he came to find himself
gently poaching on the silent, sun-kissed beach of a seemingly deserted island...
He had to somehow find a way back to the Yolkfolk and lodge his compensation claim with the travel agent....
Game Review & Impressions
No-one could have predicated an ovum wearing boxing gloves would have become the unofficial mascot for the British 8-bit gaming scene during the 1980s. Love him or hate him, Dizzy was one of the most recognisable video game brands in the UK, starring in an exhausting number of adventure games and other spin-offs. The eggy protagonist would also feature prominently on Amiga and Atari ST, albeit his 16-bit adventures featured fully upgraded visuals, with his Treasure Island adventure being the first.
As per the plot, DIzzy must find a way off the island on which he has been marooned. This involves collecting items to solve various puzzles and, for those who want a real challenge, collecting 30 coins to get the final ending message. While the principle design remains unchanged, all of the items youll find in your travels have a purpose; the red herrings from the Spectrum original have been removed and some puzzle/item combinations redesigned. For example, the glass sword used to unlock an area underneath a gravestone has been replaced with a more conventional gravediggers shovel, which makes far more sense.
Unfortunately, something from the original version which does remain intact is the annoying inventory system. Collected items occupy one of three available slots, although cycling through items always causes the uppermost item to be dropped on the ground when it leaves the window. This makes the underwater sections particularly tricky because you must ensure you dont accidentally drop the snorkel whilst grabbing other items from the seabed.
I guess these design decisions are why Dizzy games are like Marmite: you either love them or hate them. It doesnt matter how good the visuals are if the underlying game is a bit of a dud, and given the sheer amount of backtracking, not to mention you have but a single life in which to beat the whole game, its difficult to work up much enthusiasm for Treasure Island Dizzy, regardless of how many bits are involved.
Ultimately, the developers deserve credit for trying to improve on the original design, but you still have to be of a certain mindset to enjoy this kind of game. Sadly, Im not one of these, with the game doing little to satiate my desire to just poach the little weeble.
Related Longplays & Videos
Treasure Island Dizzy Longplay (C64): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLKE5PlEerk
Chapters
00:00 Attract mode
01:20 Main gameplay
26:47 Ending")
![Bang! Longplay (Arcade) [4K]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6ubdb007rfQ/hqdefault.jpg "Bang! Longplay (Arcade) [4K]
Game Info
Developer: Bit Managers
Publisher: Gaelco
Year of Release: 1998
Game Review & Impressions
Another oddity from those wacky folks at Gaelco, the aptly titled Bang! is mash up of light gun target shooter and party game. You compete in a series of randomised events, each involving blasting targets on-screen, aiming to complete various challenges within a time limit. I guess 1998 was probably a bit late to the party for a game such as this, but credit where its due, Bang! looks really good and plays pretty decently too! There are a fair number of mini-games to take part in, and itll definitely take some practice to beat all of them.
Oh, and as was typical for Gaelco, certain sound effects appear to have been borrowed from other games...pretty sure the clip for blasting bandits is from Metal Slug!
Chapters
00:00 Attract mode
00:20 Gameplay start (expert mode)")
