AL82 Retrogaming Longplays | Surprise Attack Longplay (Arcade) [QHD] @AL82RetrogamingLongplays | Uploaded 9 months ago | Updated 21 hours ago
Game Info
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Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Year of Release: 1990
Game Review & Impressions
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What happens when you chuck 2001: A Space Odyssey, Shinobi and gameshow in a development blender? Well, you get Surprise Attack. This complete and utter oddity from Konami is clearly aping Sega's Shinobi, except it replaces all the ninja stylings with cosmonauts and ray-guns.
The principle stages of the game involve scouring the area for bombs to defuse, most of which are protected by a whole bunch of bad guys. These can be despatched with a couple of blasts from your wrist laser, while others will deflect these, and can only be defeated by hitting a specific weak point. This process becomes so much trickier when the game introduces the gravity-defying ability to flip upside down and walk on the ceiling, something that really screws with your brain, owing to the fact the controls get reversed.
To aid you in your mission, you can collect weapons upgrades, which bestow you with explosive projectiles, and you can acquire temporary invincibility by walking over one of the power backpacks left at key points in the level. Using one makes you totally impervious to harm, not to mention allowing you to fly, although you do earn a special bonus if you manage to complete a stage without using one.
Perhaps the weirdest thing about Surprise Attack is the bonus game, which pops up between levels. While Shinobi had you slinging shurikens at ninjas in first person, Surprise Attack goes Pop Quiz on you. You're asked a series of science pop culture questions revolving around space and similar themes, earning bonus points for each correct answer.
If I'm honest, I'm not a massive fan of this game. It looks great, but it's still Shinobi with space lasers, and has been done before. It's also really quiet difficult, with later levels really sucking some of the fun out of things. It has Konami's typical quality production values, but just isn't especially fun to play.
Chapters
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TBC
Game Info
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Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Year of Release: 1990
Game Review & Impressions
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What happens when you chuck 2001: A Space Odyssey, Shinobi and gameshow in a development blender? Well, you get Surprise Attack. This complete and utter oddity from Konami is clearly aping Sega's Shinobi, except it replaces all the ninja stylings with cosmonauts and ray-guns.
The principle stages of the game involve scouring the area for bombs to defuse, most of which are protected by a whole bunch of bad guys. These can be despatched with a couple of blasts from your wrist laser, while others will deflect these, and can only be defeated by hitting a specific weak point. This process becomes so much trickier when the game introduces the gravity-defying ability to flip upside down and walk on the ceiling, something that really screws with your brain, owing to the fact the controls get reversed.
To aid you in your mission, you can collect weapons upgrades, which bestow you with explosive projectiles, and you can acquire temporary invincibility by walking over one of the power backpacks left at key points in the level. Using one makes you totally impervious to harm, not to mention allowing you to fly, although you do earn a special bonus if you manage to complete a stage without using one.
Perhaps the weirdest thing about Surprise Attack is the bonus game, which pops up between levels. While Shinobi had you slinging shurikens at ninjas in first person, Surprise Attack goes Pop Quiz on you. You're asked a series of science pop culture questions revolving around space and similar themes, earning bonus points for each correct answer.
If I'm honest, I'm not a massive fan of this game. It looks great, but it's still Shinobi with space lasers, and has been done before. It's also really quiet difficult, with later levels really sucking some of the fun out of things. It has Konami's typical quality production values, but just isn't especially fun to play.
Chapters
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TBC
![Surprise Attack Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/l5Eq9oWUrDg/hqdefault.jpg "Surprise Attack Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Year of Release: 1990
Game Review & Impressions
What happens when you chuck 2001: A Space Odyssey, Shinobi and gameshow in a development blender? Well, you get Surprise Attack. This complete and utter oddity from Konami is clearly aping Segas Shinobi, except it replaces all the ninja stylings with cosmonauts and ray-guns.
The principle stages of the game involve scouring the area for bombs to defuse, most of which are protected by a whole bunch of bad guys. These can be despatched with a couple of blasts from your wrist laser, while others will deflect these, and can only be defeated by hitting a specific weak point. This process becomes so much trickier when the game introduces the gravity-defying ability to flip upside down and walk on the ceiling, something that really screws with your brain, owing to the fact the controls get reversed.
To aid you in your mission, you can collect weapons upgrades, which bestow you with explosive projectiles, and you can acquire temporary invincibility by walking over one of the power backpacks left at key points in the level. Using one makes you totally impervious to harm, not to mention allowing you to fly, although you do earn a special bonus if you manage to complete a stage without using one.
Perhaps the weirdest thing about Surprise Attack is the bonus game, which pops up between levels. While Shinobi had you slinging shurikens at ninjas in first person, Surprise Attack goes Pop Quiz on you. Youre asked a series of science pop culture questions revolving around space and similar themes, earning bonus points for each correct answer.
If Im honest, Im not a massive fan of this game. It looks great, but its still Shinobi with space lasers, and has been done before. Its also really quiet difficult, with later levels really sucking some of the fun out of things. It has Konamis typical quality production values, but just isnt especially fun to play.
Chapters
TBC")
![Gunnail Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lTyRPQTTRmc/hqdefault.jpg "Gunnail Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: NMK
Publisher: NMK
Year of Release: 1993
Game Review & Impressions
Time for another arcade shooter, and Gunnail is a perfectly serviceable early 90s entry from NMK. The game focuses on risk versus reward, which requires the player to sacrifice units of the shield health to increase their score multiplier. The only way to score big and achieve a decent rank is to live on the edge by giving up the shield and hope you can make through the level AND defeat the boss without taking a hit! The big orange numbers which flash up on taking down the boss reflect the multiplier you were awarded, and higher numbers can only be achieved without a shield.
This would have been OK if the developers hadnt included the nagging warning klaxon sound when youre out of shield. I understand why they did it, and its much less of a concern in a loud arcade, but solo players in a quiet environment are liable to get rather cheesed off with its constant screechy whine.
Otherwise, Gunnail is a perfectly decent shoot em up. Audio, graphics and general presentation are all to a high standard, and the selection of power-ups on offer the key to a decent shmup is expansive. The ability to control the satellite modules which float adjacent to your ship is a cool touch; if you want to focus fire forward to take down a boss or larger corvette class enemies, its perfectly possible to do so. I wouldnt describe Gunnail as a classic, but Im sure any arcade fan will have a good time with this.
Chapters
TBC")
![Defender Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lWPAUjAZJfQ/hqdefault.jpg "Defender Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Williams Electronics
Publisher: Williams Electronics
Year of Release: 1981
Game Review & Impressions
One of Eugene Jarvis most iconic games of all time, Defender is distilled arcade action at its best.
This is a score attack game with no ending, with the only goal lasting as long as possible, staving off your cataclysmic, but nonetheless spectacular death. The combination of black background and neon-infused alien craft, laser beams and explosions overlayed on top create a psychedelic disco of destruction that is still really satisfying to play.
The objective is simple: protect human scientists meandering about the planets surface from alien abduction, lest they be converted to an alien themselves, hunting you relentlessly across the blackened skies.
You have at your disposal both rapid fire lasers and a limited number of smart bombs with which to blow up the invaders, and theres also a teleport that can be activated to get you out of stick situations.
To progress to the next wave, all aliens must be destroyed before they can convert all humans on the surface. On losing your last colonist,you are thrust into a final, spectacular battle against endless waves of the most vicious enemies known to humankind - how long can YOU last?
Video Notes
TBC
Chapters
TBC")
![Thunder Fox Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/luTyfJy9iAU/hqdefault.jpg "Thunder Fox Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Taito
Publisher: Taito
Year of Release: 1990
Game Review & Impressions
If youre looking for a dose of adrenaline-fueled machismo, Taito has just the game for you. Thunder Fox espouses all the trappings of the classic 80s action flick: bulging muscles; explosions; more military-grade hardware than even John Matrix could handle comfortably. In terms of gameplay, this is another run-and-gun side-scroller in the mould of Rolling Thunder, Shinobi, and a good dollop of Sly Spy for good measure. Its not especially remarkable, but the overall presentation is excellent, and the gameplay is solid - collect guns and other power-ups to overcome legions of adversaries the game throws at you, with each stage culminating in the typical boss fight players should be well versed with.
Chapters
00:00 Attract mode
00:30 Stage 1
02:47 Stage 2
06:05 Stage 3
10:10 Stage 4
13:05 Stage 5
16:33 Final Boss
17:45 Ending")
![Navy Moves Longplay (C64) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/m8MGSe5F21E/hqdefault.jpg "Navy Moves Longplay (C64) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Dinamic
Publisher: Dinamic
Year of Release: 1989
Game Review & Impressions
The chaps over at @zappedpast3297 reviewed Navy Moves in one of their recent podcast episodes, bemoaning the level of difficulty. I recorded a longplay of Army Moves a couple of years back, itself a challenging title, so I was curious to see what the sequel had to offer.
Structurally, the game follows the typical Dinamic template, dividing the game into two halves. The first of these features a series of arcade-like sequences depicting your journey towards the submarine base. By far the most challenging aspect of the game, these sections involve navigating a small inflatable raft across the ocean waves, avoiding floating mines and patrolling gunboats. The collision detection on your boat and the mines is ridiculously precise, and so much as a single pixel colliding with these things will detonate them, sending you to the bottom of the drink, losing a life in the process. Make it past this, and youll need to scuba-dive your way past ravenous sharks, harpoon gun-wielding divers, before piloting a small boarding craft to the sub base itself. Here, gigantic octopi will emerge from rifts at the bottom of the ocean, pass around your craft a few times, before latching on to it and crushing it with their tentacles. Fail to land sufficient hits with your torpedo launchers before this occurs, and youre taking a one-way trip to Davey Jones Locker.
If you somehow make it through this frankly ludicrous series of opening challenges, youll dock with the sub base and begin the assault proper. This section involves locating and killing naval officers for their command codes, finding computer terminals and punching in commands along with the corresponding code to open the way to the core of the base. Here, youll plant explosives to destroy the facility, then make your escape to the surface hatch where youll find another submarine to take you to safety. Armed guards, including marines equipped with flamethrowers, will try and stop you, so youll need to be quick on the draw if you intend to survive. This second sequence is generally less punishing than those that preceded it, although its still no walk in the park, given the maze-like series of rooms, connected by doors that warp you to other parts of the map.
If Navy Moves has one failing, its just too damned hard. If Dinamic had toned down the difficulty, and perhaps added more content and focus on the base assault section, this might have been a decent action game. Having been blown up countless times by the mines in the opening stage, I doubt many players would have persevered much beyond this stage.
Related Longplays & Videos
Army Moves (C64): https://youtu.be/rq2XVcB_yIk
Chapters
00:00 Title screen and music loop (Jeroen Tel/Maniacs of Noise)
02:17 Phase 1
04:00 Phase 2
05:27 Phase 3
06:07 Phase 4
08:15 Phase 5
14:45 Ending")
![Rezon Longplay (Arcade) [4K]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mqLGmLBhqv8/hqdefault.jpg "Rezon Longplay (Arcade) [4K]
Game Info
Developer: Allumer
Publisher: Allumer
Year of Release: 1991
Game Review & Impressions
If youre watching this video and getting a weird sense of Deja vu, youre not alone. I wasnt sure what to expect when I fired up Rezon, but it didnt take long to figure out why the game felt so familiar.
Its clear from the get-go that Rezon is HEAVILY inspired by R-Type. The graphics, colour palette, enemy designs and weapon upgrades could all conceivably belong to a game from Irems line of arcade classic shooters, but trying to clone constituent parts of a game in this way doesnt guarantee the end product will be a success.
Although Rezon is a competently produced game in some respects, its not a particularly satisfying experience. The weapon upgrades lack the power the needed to deal with the number of enemies youre confronted with, and players will often find themselves backed into corners of the screen as they try to deal with incoming swarms of enemy craft. This would have been so much better if the developers had included the charge beam mechanic, allowing you clear a path through fight squadrons with a blast of super-heated plasma, or take down dreadnoughts in a couple of hits, rather than forcing you to chip away at them with weedy plink guns.
I guess fans of R-Type may find merit in Rezon, given its obvious similarities, but my advice is to simply go and play the real McCoy, rather than this rather obvious usurper.
Chapters
00:00 Attract mode
01:00 Stage 1
03:50 Stage 2
07:21 Stage 3
11:30 Stage 4
16:22 Stage 5
19:26 Stage 6
23:25 Ending")
![Sengoku Longplay (Neo Geo) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nJRIixvtLCE/hqdefault.jpg "Sengoku Longplay (Neo Geo) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: SNK
Publisher: SNK
Year of Release: 1991
Game Review & Impressions
Sengoku is the first in a trilogy of beat em ups for the Neo Geo console, with the original entry being released in 1991. Its pretty representative of the consoles capabilities, featuring detailed 2D graphics and impressive digitised audio for the time.
The games attract mode introduces players to the games plot, which involves the demise of an ancient Japanese warlord. Deposed by a pair of samurai for his evil deeds, the warlord prophesises his return to life 400 years in the future, whereupon he intends to wreak havoc on the world and its inhabitants in an act of revenge. Sure enough, the ghostly visage of the dead warlord shows up in modern-day Japan with an ethereal host of undead warriors in tow, ready to cause havoc. The only individuals capable of preventing the end of the world are Ninja Dave and Cowboy Kev, descendants of the samurai who overthrew the warlord centuries ago, possessing the fighting skills necessary to get the job done, as well two of the most ridiculous names in video game history.
On the surface, Sengoku is your typical belt-scrolling affair: move right and beat up anything and everything which stands in your way. However, the game features a range of weapons and powers with which players can upgrade their fighting ability. Defeated enemies will drop coloured orbs which bestow the collector with weapons that include swords and the ability to throw hadoken-style energy waves. Theres also a separate system which allows you to change your form completely, transforming into an armour-clad samurai or cartwheeling ninja. Learning which combinations of equipment and form suit both your playstyle and the given situation are a major part of the game, and very reminiscent of Magician Lord.
As far as actual gameplay is concerned, I found it rather average. The trudging pace of the player characters, overly-telegraphed moves and lack of a dash mechanic or grapples make for what is, in my opinion, a rather dull experience. For all its spectacle, Id rather play Double Dragon or Final Fight, chiefly because the core combat in those titles feels more rewarding.
Chapters
TBC")
![SNK vs. Capcom Longplay (C64) [QHD] [Homebrew]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nN6AFPOcgYc/hqdefault.jpg "SNK vs. Capcom Longplay (C64) [QHD] [Homebrew]
Game Info
Developer: RetroGL & JONEGG
Publisher: RetroGL & JONEGG
Year of Release: 2023
Game Review & Impressions
The C64 was plagued by some of the shonkiest arcade conversions ever released, with a common complaint that the machine simply wasnt cut out for rending games designed for custom arcade boards replete with multiple 68000 CPUs and all manner of custom sprite manipulation and blitting frippery.
Thanks to several decades of game design theory, radically improved tools and even better knowledge of the hardware, Im not so sure this holds true. Developers are continuing to coax increasingly superb titles out of the breadbin, and SNK Vs. Capcom is a genuine revelation.
The character sprites appear to be influenced by the likes of Super Puzzle Fighter and King of Fighters: R2 for the Neo Geo Pocket. These sprites are highly stylised versions of their original arcade counterparts, with squashed bodies and oversized limbs, which play to the strengths of the target machines limited resolution and colour palette - the pixels might be chunky, but its a design choice that works incredibly well. The fighting animations are fluid, featuring multiple frames, and are instantly recognisable from the coin-op original.
Most remarkable of all is the gameplay itself. Virtually the entire move-set for each of the characters is present, condensed into a control scheme which actually works on the C64s single-button joystick. An option to use a two-button stick does exist in the options menu, but the single button option is just brilliant. Crucially, the movement tracking for pulling off special moves is near-perfect; I had little difficulty pulling off hadokens and dragon punches, including mid-air versions of these specials. The super specials, activated via double repetition of the standard specials, are present and correct, and function just as you would expect. To say the developers have done an incredible job here is a total understatement; you can even chain combo attacks together, which the game actively recognises and rewards with bonus points!
If you owned a C64 back in the day, you owe it to yourself and the devs to go and check this out. Its a total masterpiece, and given the current release is billed as an Alpha, I suspect therell be more tweaks and refinements in the coming months.
Download Links
- Check the video description in RetroGLs official YT video for the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP0wBpNTXv8&ab_channel=RetroGL
Chapters
TBC")
![The Last Blade Longplay (Neo Geo) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oEVi4hF6rCg/hqdefault.jpg "The Last Blade Longplay (Neo Geo) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: SNK
Publisher: SNK
Year of Release: 1997
Game Review & Impressions
Its fair to say the Neo Geo isnt exactly lacking when it comes to great fighting games. With franchises such as Fatal Fury, King of Fighters and Samurai Shodown already well-established by 1997, its hard to imagine room for yet another entrant in such a crowded marketspace, but The Last Blade manages to carve itself a niche that sets it apart from other SNK fighting games.
Much like Samurai Shodown, The Last Blade is a game all about weapon-based combat, albeit one which is more tactical in its approach to gameplay. The combat is generally slower paced, instead focusing on well-timed strikes and judicious use of the guard counter mechanic. The guard counter is effectively an active block, which puts your character into a guard stance that not only protects from an incoming attack, but stuns your opponent temporarily, leaving them open to counters. Different guard counters must be executed to deal with high and low attacks, and while it doesnt work on most supers or specials, it can be absolutely devastating in the hands of a decent player, chaining together a series of attacks that can quickly rip through an opponents health gauge.
Players must choose both a character from a roster of fighters on offer and an attack style to use throughout the game. The Speed style benefits from the ability to chain attacks together at the expense of raw power, whereas the Power mode focuses on raw damage output per attack, and gives access to a Super Desperation move. These Desparation moves are typically only available when the players health bar is flashing red or power bar has been filled, and can quickly turn the tide of battle if used properly.
Another of TLBs more memorable features is the inclusion of death animations, where defeating an enemy with a cross-cutting slash has a chance to slice them in two, accompanied by geyser-like spray of blood from the wound. Given that combatants are hitting each other with savagely sharp pieces of pointed metal, this makes a lot of sense, and the artwork and attention to detail really makes these pseudo-fatalities all the more impactful.
As to my own opinion, I was really impressed by The Last Blade. The combat mechanics and deflection/counters make for an experience that feels more nuanced in its approach, one where timing and mastery of the systems lead to victory, rather than blind button-mashing. This beautifully rendered versus fighting game typifies everything the Neo Geo stands for as a games console,
Chapters
00:00 Attract mode
02:33 Gameplay
22:30 Ending")
![Super Star Wars Longplay (SNES) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/od2rTSIiu88/hqdefault.jpg "Super Star Wars Longplay (SNES) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Sculptured Software, LucasArts
Publisher: JVC
Year of Release: 1992
Game Review & Impressions
Released almost a decade after original trilogy of movies concluded, Super Star Wars took a new generation of gamers back to the deserts of Tatooine, ready to fight against the machinations of the Empire.
I guess that was the plan, at least. Super Star Wars is, in my opinion, a rather dull platform game containing repetitive levels, endlessly spawning enemies, and bitty graphics which dont quite do the whole thing justice. There are some cool Mode 7 sections, but even those are like a spacey version of dodgems with laser blasters.
I didnt hate Super Star Wars, just had higher hopes for it. I did have a good chuckle at the Stormtroopers on the Death Star hangar stage, where they leap down from the ceiling and fall straight to their death down one of the launch bay hatches in the floor, but that really was the only moment of levity. Even the lightsaber, the most iconic element in the whole Star Wars universe, is a letdown, being weaker and more awkward to use than the blaster pistol.
The first SNES game in the Star Wars film universe isnt exactly riveting, but I still have high hopes for the sequels. Maybe theyll be better?
Chapters
TBC")
![BioMetal Longplay (SNES) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ouXTl78JwpM/hqdefault.jpg "BioMetal Longplay (SNES) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Athena
Publisher: Activision
Year of Release: 1993
Game Review & Impressions
An average shoot em up that feels heavily inspired by R-Type, BioMetal features some decent graphics and visual effects, although doesnt leave much in the way of lasting impact. This is a by-the-numbers affair, shooting waves of bio-mechanical enemies, navigating occasionally precarious terrain and obstacles, and taking out oversized end-of-level bosses.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:14 Stage 1
04:46 Stage 2
07:59 Stage 3
11:12 Stage 4
14:36 Stage 5
19:57 Stage 6
23:21 Ending")
![Nigel Mansells World Championship Longplay (SNES) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/p1p_qbCFc5Q/hqdefault.jpg "Nigel Mansells World Championship Longplay (SNES) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Gremlin Graphics
Publisher: Gametek
Year of Release: 1993
Game Review & Impressions
With the success of the Lotus trilogy and Super Cars series, its fair to say Gremlin had cemented its reputation as a publisher/developer of some of the best driving games for the home video game market. Focusing on the world of Formula 1, Gremlin secured a license to create a game based on British F1 champion, Nigel Mansell. Mansell had recently achieved a staller victory with the Williams motorsport team during the 1992 season, so a promotional vehicle featuring both champion driver and car would be an easy sell to racing fans.
Fortunately, the game isnt just a bunch of low-rent marketing bluster with a crappy game bolted on. In fact, this happens to be, at least in my opinion, one of the best 2D racing games of the period. The speed and responsiveness of the gameplay is certainly better than the Genesis version of Super Monaco Grand Prix, undoubtedly the primary influence, which is impressive when considering the latter was a first-party Sega title. The inclusion of arcade and simulation game modes is a nice touch, and a variety of race modes, including a full season tour, means theres plenty of racing action for fans to get stuck into.
I spent over 2 hours recording this, and even by the end of the session, I really have nothing negative to say about it. The sense of pace, car handling and general level of presentation are all equally excellent. The AI governing the rival drivers delivers a sufficiently decent challenge, but one that can be overcome with consistently good driving; many racers suffer from AI which zooms into the distance, never to be seen again, but that is certainly not the case here. I was also delighted to see opposition cars needing to pit to get their tyres changed, meaning theyre subject to the same rules and restrictions as the player.
As for the race tracks, the fact theyre licensed means the course layouts resemble those of their real-life counterparts, at least for the time. Something I was particularly impressed with was the background artwork for each of the respective race tracks. Having driven around most of these in the most recent Forza Motorsport and have a good overall feel for how theyre supposed to look, I can say the artists did a really good job with the resources available. For example, the track at Spa Francorchamps features a a backdrop full of dense forests and hilly pines, which is pretty accurate to the real-life equivalent.
If youre like me and prefer your racing more on the arcade-like, Nigel Mansells World Championship is definitely a SNES title to check out. The overall design results in one of the most accessible and fun games of its kind, one thats easy to recommend - go check it out.
Chapters
TBC")
