AL82 Retrogaming Longplays
| Treasure Island Dizzy Longplay (C64) [50 FPS] @AL82RetrogamingLongplays | Updated October 2024, 3 hours ago.
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Treasure Island Dizzy Longplay (C64) [50 FPS] @AL82RetrogamingLongplays
![Treasure Island Dizzy Longplay (C64) [50 FPS]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bLKE5PlEerk/hqdefault.jpg "Treasure Island Dizzy Longplay (C64) [50 FPS]
Treasure Island Dizzy Longplay (C64) [50 FPS]")
![Disneys Aladdin Longplay (SNES) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bQVG4JKQrDg/hqdefault.jpg "Disneys Aladdin Longplay (SNES) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Year of Release: 1993
Game Review & Impressions
One of the final tranche of traditional 2D animated movies, Disneys Aladdin was a huge deal when it came out. The late and much missed Robin Williams star turn as the Genie is one of the main reasons for the films enduring appeal, and probably explains why I actually bothered to watch this back in the day; Id really outgrown this kind of stuff at this point.
Unsurprisingly, games based on the movie were soon to follow. Virgin Games handled development of Aladdin for the Sega Genesis, while Capcom was on point for Nintendo and the SNES. Despite being based on the same source material, both games feature completely different levels and mechanics; despite both being platform games, theyre quite different. While theres no denying the quality of the artwork, presentation or sound, I think Capcom stuck too rigidly to the formula they used when designing most of their platform games for the SNES: this is The Magical Quest wearing Aladdin pants.
The game follows the adventures of street urchin Aladdin and his primate pal Abu as they leap, somersault through side-scrolling platforming levels based on scenes from the movie. While the main objective in each stage is to simply get to the exit, completionists will want to be on the lookout for 10 ruby gems secreted throughout; some of these are located off the beaten track, and require careful combing of the level to uncover. Levels typically end with a boss fight of sorts, which are usually defeated by bouncing on their heads.
Dont get me wrong, the SNES version of Aladdin is a quality production by Capcom - the presentation is exemplary, although youd expect nothing less of a game based on a Disney franchise. The problem is, this just lacks the flair of the Genesis version; this just feels too safe and by-the-numbers. The involvement of real Disney animators, not to mention the ever-so-slightly more mature theming (Aladdin gets to clobber bad guys with a sword) of the Genesis version means it just appeals to me more than Capcoms game.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:52 Stage 1
09:49 Stage 2
15:19 Stage 3
19:14 Stage 4
24:46 Stage 5
29:53 Bonus stage
32:11 Stage 6
38:44 Final boss
39:56 Ending")
![Daley Thompsons Olympic Challenge Longplay (C64) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bUUll-ssDmA/hqdefault.jpg "Daley Thompsons Olympic Challenge Longplay (C64) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Ocean Software
Publisher: Ocean Software
Year of Release: 1988
Game Review & Impressions
I recorded a longplay of Daley Thompsons Decathlon, the first game from Ocean starring the celebrated decathlete, not too long ago and, its fair to say, my hand and wrist almost broke from the ludicrously frantic joystick waggling that ensued. I undertook the challenge at the request of @zappedpast3297, only to discover they meant the OTHER Daley Thompson game, namely this particular beast, which means I was about to get really sore all over again...
Olympic Challenge is yet another game based on the Track and Field template set out by Konami, where the player must compete in a series of athletic events to earn the best times, scores and achievements possible. Events include 100m sprint, javelin, shot-put, discus, not to mention the ludicrous 1500m long distance. Every event involves waggling the joystick from side to side to build up power or speed, guaranteed to grind your Zipstick microswitches into dust. Events like discus and javelin also involve pressing the fire button and timing angle of trajectory to hurl said objects the furthest distance possible, and pulling this off after battering the heck out of your waggling arm is easier said than done.
If Im honest, Daley Thompsons Olympic Challenge is just a prettier version of the previous game, but one thats really devoid of any innovation. Theres a series of training sections at the start of the game that involve, you guessed it, lots of waggling, which serves little purpose than to pay lip service to Lucozade, the first of the games official sponsors, while an utterly pointless pre-amble to each event involving selecting the correct pair of Adidas training shoes, the second. Its all nicely presented, but its dull and frustrating experience with occasional bugs thats just unrewarding to play.
Video Notes
- Pole-vault event glitched after beating the maximum possible bar height
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:50 Training mode
04:22 100 Metres
04:43 Long Jump
05:21 Shot Put
06:20 High Jump
08:50 400 Metres
09:51 110 Metre Hurdles
10:19 Discus
11:30 Pole-vault
14:48 Javelin
16:21 1500 Metres
18:38 Medal Ceremony")
![Vice: Project Doom Longplay (NES) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/c-Ds77G77Uk/hqdefault.jpg "Vice: Project Doom Longplay (NES) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Sammy
Publisher: Sammy
Year of Release: 1991
Game Review & Impressions
Also known as Gun-Dec in Japan, Vice: Project Doom is slickly-produced side-scrolling run n gun platformer with a plot thats borderline unfathomable. Its a tale of clandestine corporations, bio-engineering and cloning, wrapped in a layer of detective thriller mystery thats often difficult to comprehend.
Ever-so-slightly wacky story aside, the game is definitely worth checking out. There are plenty of levels for players to get stuck into, including occasional vertical shoot em up and on-rails shooting sections that serve to add some variety to overall ensemble.
The bulk of the game is comprised of side-ways scrolling platform sections where the player, a detective or secret agent-style character, must traverse hazardous environments, despatching enemies with a variety of weapons that include a gun with strangely limited range, grenades, and a weird energy sword/light sabre device thats probably too powerful for its own good.
With its excellent graphics, solid gameplay and production values, Vice: Project Doom is well worth checking out.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:46 Stage 1
03:43 Stage 2
05:46 Stage 3
08:39 Stage 4
10:26 Stage 5
14:30 Stage 6
18:36 Stage 7
21:38 Stage 8
24:53 Stage 9
28:46 Stage 10
30:26 Stage 11
35:44 Final Boss
37:12 Ending
#nes #retrogaming #longplay")
![Blackthorne Longplay (PC DOS) [4K] [Gravis Ultrasound]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cW8VtB2qhC8/hqdefault.jpg "Blackthorne Longplay (PC DOS) [4K] [Gravis Ultrasound]
Game Info
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Interplay
Year of Release: 1994
Game Review & Impressions
I forget precisely when I became aware of Blackthorne for the first time, but I believe it must have been at least a couple of years after Blizzard hit the big time with the likes of Warcraft: Orcs & Humans. The game was developed originally for the SNES (Silicon & Synapse/Blizzard was still a console-focused studio at this point), with the PC conversion launching the same year; even back then, it was weird to play an arcade-platformer by a studio which would become so famous for its RTS and ARPG games.
When it comes to game design, its obvious Blackthorne borrows heavily from both Prince of Persia and Flashback, perhaps more so the former than the latter. Although Blackthorne and Flashback both focus on gun-based combat, the mechanic of ducking into the shadows of the background to avoid enemy fire feels more analogous to the parry and counter-based sword fighting of Prince of Persia.
Whilst Blackthorne certainly isnt original, to Blizzards credit, its a thoroughly decent PoP-alike. Its the typical Blizzard high fantasy themes involving humans, orcs and other demonic beings, although the concept of a human armed with a shotgun transported from Earth to a parallel dimension to do battle with otherworldly foes has more than a whiff of Army of Darkness about it.
If you enjoy this kind of game, Blackthorne will almost certainly be right up your alley. Gravis Ultrasound support meant that PC owners lucky enough to own one of these coveted sound cards got to experience a dramatic and rousing musical score, making the PC edition of the game the definitive way to experience the game.
Video Notes
- Recorded with Gravis Ultrasound MIDI
Related Longplays & Videos
Blackthorne Longplay (SNES): https://youtu.be/ycm0rBGKnk0
Chapters
00:00 Tutorial & Intro
04:11 The Mines
28:40 The Forest
1:03:44 The Mountains
1:42:45 Sarlacs Keep
2:18:20 Final Boss
2:19:46 Ending")
![Thunder Zone Longplay (Arcade) [4K]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cq9DhVB29TE/hqdefault.jpg "Thunder Zone Longplay (Arcade) [4K]
Game Info
Developer: Data East
Publisher: Data East
Year of Release: 1991
Game Review & Impressions
Another game from Data East which Id never heard of, Thunder Zone is a top-down shooter which draws inspiration from Capcoms Mercs, whose own lineage goes back to the likes of Ikari Warriors and Commando before it.
Up to 4 players embark on a series of missions to rescue hostages, take down military installations and shoot a lot of bad guys in the process. Its pretty formulaic, with some tiresomely difficult bullet-sponge bosses, but it has an absolutely killer soundtrack, which goes some way to making up for the drudgery.
Theres also a sizeable array of different weapons to collect along the way, my personal favourite being the flamethrower. Its short range, but incinerates most enemies in next to no time.
Chapters
00:00 Attract mode
01:00 Mission 1
05:03 Training Stage 1
05:41 Mission 2
10:20 Mission 3
15:05 Training Stage 2
15:48 Mission 4
22:48 Final Mission
36:18 Ending
#retrogaming #arcadegames #longplay")
![Brawl Brothers Longplay (SNES) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dbsBGQuy8Mo/hqdefault.jpg "Brawl Brothers Longplay (SNES) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Jaleco
Publisher: Jaleco
Year of Release: 1992
Game Review & Impressions
Also known subtitled Rival Turf! 2, this is a sequel to Rival Turf. As a result of boring gameplay, a limited move-set and endless waves of opponents, I really wasnt a fan of the predecessor, and while Brawl Brothers IS an improvement, its still nowhere near being close to Streets of Rage 2 or Final Fight in terms of quality.
As to the plot, I really couldnt care less. The game infuriated me to such a degree I couldnt be bothered to look it up. It doesnt even need a plot: a bunch of good guys travel right and beat up a bunch of bad guys for reasons.
You select primary fighter and a backup from a roster of five characters consisting of your typical genre achetypes: Master Slowshuffle; Mountain Dew Ninja; middle-of-the-road Joe; Token Female and Beefcake McPoundface.
Normally, figuring out where to go isnt a concern in these types of games, but for some reason, Jaleco introduced two levels that involve branching paths, and unless you choose the paths in the correct order, youll go around in a continual loop. I must have spent a good 40 minutes in the sewer section alone, battling wave after wave of goons until I realised it was possible to walk through the doors in the back of the stage! The player is given no instruction to do this, nor are there any suggestions you need to figure the correct route out, which is just bad game design.
Another pet hate of mine, which this particular game uses to a significant extent, is putting enemies into a state where they either cant be injured, or theres no way to prevent their next attack. The collision detection in Brawl Brothers is suspect at the best of times, but throughout my entire playthrough my characters punches and kicks pass through the enemy sprite with no impact. Similarly, the grapple mechanic frequently prioritises the enemy character above your own, meaning theyll get to toss you around with impunity. I loathe this mechanic with a passion because its a cheap way to boost the difficulty; the player should always have some countermeasure with which to avoid this scenario, but Jaleco clearly thought otherwise. This makes Brawl Brothers an incessantly dull and often joyless affair, leaving the player frustrated at every turn.
As you might have gathered, I didnt like this game; in fact, I think I liked it less than the original, despite the additional features. The kernel of a decent game is buried under a series of bad design choices and general laziness, and everything about it just ground my gears. Others might enjoy it, but Im not one of them.
Chapters
TBC")
![Conan: The Mysteries of Time Longplay (NES) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dnMbMF6XGV8/hqdefault.jpg "Conan: The Mysteries of Time Longplay (NES) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Mindscape
Publisher: Mindscape
Year of Release: 1991
Game Review & Impressions
Id been aware of Conan: The Mysteries of Time for a while, but Id never played it, until now. My chief reason for playing this is because its essentially a clone of Myth: History in the Making, released originally on the Commodore 64 back in 1989. The C64 version is one of my favourite games for the machine, partly due to its innovative gameplay, intriguing plot and stonkingly good theme tune composed by Jeroen Tel.
I dont know much about the history of this particular port, but Mindscape must have licensed the Myth from System 3, then attached the Conan IP to the project, probably to make it more attractive to the predominantly US-based NES market. Unfortunately, they did such a horrendous hatchet job on this conversion that I cant believe anyone actually bought this, or at least didnt attempt to return it to store for a refund - its shockingly bad.
The terrible graphics are just the tip of the iceberg, shoddily copied from the C64 without any apparent attempt to cater for the revised screen resolution or colour palette. The lego brick pixels synonymous with C64 medium resolution stick out like a sore thumb here, and the dimensions of all the character and background assets dont look right at all.
Things arent any better when it comes to the gameplay. The controls and combat mechanics have been completely butchered, resulting in a near-unplayable mess, and certain levels are borderline broken. Quite a few of the levels from the Norse and Egyptian stages have been cut altogether, probably to save on expensive ROM costs, and the final boss fight against Dameron is nowhere to be seen.
This is not just an insult to Conan, its a slap in the face to one of my favourite C64 games of all time - the NES was capable of so much more than this, so the blame for this utter dogpile lands squarely at the feet of the developers. This is utter crap, pure and simple, and best avoided at all costs.
Chapters
TBC")
![Batman: Return of the Joker Longplay (NES) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/e-7sqotXk_A/hqdefault.jpg "Batman: Return of the Joker Longplay (NES) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Sunsoft
Publisher: Sunsoft
Year of Release: 1991
Game Review & Impressions
Released in 1991, the Dark Knight of Gotham returned to the NES to do battle with his arch-nemesis, the Joker, in a technical and artistic tour de force for Nintendos aging 8-bit console. Sunsoft really knew how to make the NES sing, and Return of the Joker is one of the best-looking games on the console - its simply stunning.
In terms of gameplay, this is much closer to a straight-up shooter than the previous game. The emphasis here is very much on blasting enemies with a variety of weapons, with some traditional platforming thrown into the mix. Each stage features the kind of hazards, traps and pit-falls fans of the genre should be familiar with, and its all extremely polished.
It is, therefore, somewhat regrettable that I simply wasnt as enthused with this particular title as I was its predecessor. Its probably just me, but I feel the Dark Knight is at his best when going hand-to-hand with his foes, not simply blasting them to pieces, and thats really all there is to Return of the Joker. The wall-jumping mechanic that made the original so memorable is relegated, and it doesnt help that the C power-up weapon, with its powerful explosion and wide blast radius, makes the other guns irrelevant.
Im sure this game has plenty of fans who love it, but I cant say Im one of them. I certainly recognise its qualities, not to mention nothing but respect for Sunsoft, but this just wasnt my cup of tea, sadly.
Chapters
00:00 Attract mode
00:15 Stage 1-1
01:12 Stage 1-2
02:18 Stage 1-3
02:53 Stage 2-1
03:44 Stage 2-2
04:41 Stage 3-1
05:34 Stage 3-2
06:28 Stage 3-3
07:56 Stage 4-1
09:11 Stage 4-2
11:05 Stage 4-3
12:23 Stage 5-1
13:10 Stage 5-2
14:04 Stage 6-1
14:55 Stage 6-2
15:49 Stage 6-3
17:23 Stage 7-1
18:18 Stage 7-2
20:24 Ending
#batman #nes #retrogaming")
![Ikari Warriors Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/er0uLLUb_uc/hqdefault.jpg "Ikari Warriors Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: SNK
Publisher: SNK
Year of Release: 1986
Game Review & Impressions
Having looked back through all the longplays Ive recorded, I was surprised Id never tackled Ikari Warriors. This arcade classic is heavily inspired by Capcoms Commando, and follows very similar design philosophies. Its the same run-and-gun affair viewed from a top-down perspective, where up to two players must blast their way through waves of enemy infantry, blow up bunkers, and generally annihilate anything that stands in their way.
What sets Ikari Warriors apart from Commando and piers is the combination of 8-way stick with a rotary dial which allows the player to move and aim in completely different directions. Its a control scheme which sounds cool on paper, although presents a steeper learning curve in practice, resulting in an experience which I personally do not care for. Factor in the huge numbers of enemies youll be facing at any given time, not to mention the landmines liberally secreted across the combat theatre, and youll be in for one heck of a rough ride. Being able to clamber inside a tank and rain death on your foes from afar offers momentary respite, because youll need to find cannisters of gas to keep the damn thing operational, and it takes only a couple of blasts from an enemy grenade to put it out of commission.
Although Im perhaps not the hugest fan of the gameplay, I can definitely get behind the visual aesthetic. The presentation here is truly fantastic, particularly the animation, something that SNK would become renowned for into the 1990s and beyond with the Neo Geo. The way enemy bullets kick up dirt is a really neat touch, demonstrating attention to detail which other developers of the time simply wouldnt have bothered with.
Chapters
00:00 Attract mode
01:00 Gameplay
15:35 Ending")
![Insector X Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f-IK5D9JAq8/hqdefault.jpg "Insector X Longplay (Arcade) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Taito
Publisher: Taito
Year of Release: 1989
Game Review & Impressions
I recently longplayed the Sega Genesis version of this horizontal shooter, but it wasnt until after Id uploaded that particular video I learned the game originated from a coin-op. The background info online indicated the Genesis version had revamped graphics, but I wasnt prepared for just HOW different they are. The arcade version is rooted in Taitos cutesy cartoon aesthetic, much like Rainbow Islands, whereas the Genesis went for an edgier, grungier and more adult look, probably to appeal to the demographic the console was aimed at.
The core gameplay is much as you would expect to find in most shot em ups. You get to power up you weaponry with an assortment of air-to-air and air-to-ground projectiles, multi-shots and burst waves. One of the weapons even looks like the mesh from a giant fly-swat, which would be apt, considering the enemies youre facing.
If the game has a selling point, its the excellent end-of-level bosses, which look excellent. The attention to detail in the character sprites and animation is highly detailed and wonderfully stylised. I also have to wonder whether Capcom took inspiration from this game when they developed the Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse; it could be coincidental, but the spider and web-based boss fights between the two games are eerily similar.
The arcade version of Insector X isnt the most compelling shooter Ive ever played, but its decent-enough, and the art-style makes it worth persevering with.
Related Longplays & Videos
Insector X (Sega Genesis): https://youtu.be/S8k07zZuBQA
Chapters
TBC")
![Bad Dudes Vs. Dragon Ninja Longplay (Amstrad CPC) [QHD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/f2Yf6Rh4H7Y/hqdefault.jpg "Bad Dudes Vs. Dragon Ninja Longplay (Amstrad CPC) [QHD]
Game Info
Developer: Ocean Software (Imagine)
Publisher: Ocean Software (Imagine)
Year of Release: 1988
Coding: James Higgins
Graphics: Martin McDonald
Music: Jonathan Dunn
Game Review & Impressions
Data Easts Ninja-bashing coin-op with attitude should be familiar to almost anyone with a passing knowledge of 80s arcade beat em ups, and it was ported to a huge range of computers and consoles, including the Amstrad CPC. Ocean developed this conversion under the auspices of its Imagine label, and its colourful Mode 0 graphics are the main reason I wanted to give this version a try.
To Oceans credit, they managed to pack a lot into the Amstrad version. All the levels from the arcade are present and correct, plus the various enemies, weapons and power-ups are included. The 128K disk version (shown here), also includes some sampled speech, as well loading all game levels into memory, eliminating the need for any additional loading; pretty sweet.
However, the CPC version certainly has its fair share of glitches. Some, such as the enemy ninja which seem to have knives sticking out of the middle of their faces, are simply amusing, while others affect the gameplay in various ways. The timer displayed in the bottom right of the screen counts down way too quickly, and your pretty much guaranteed to lose a life in the second level, due to the fact you have to wait for the screen to scroll, with no way of advancing it yourself. The enemies carrying swords will always hit you if they manage to leap into the air, regardless of where the player sprite happens to be when they land, and the collision detection goes completely out of whack when too many enemies are on screen at the same time. End-of-level bosses all behave identically and offer no variation or real challenge, and the boss of stage 3 has lost his ability to multiply and looks like a regular bad guy.
The most annoying of all the games quirks is the final stage, where you need to travel from right to left. Unlike the rest of the game, where the camera scrolls with the player located in the centre of the screen, the screen only scrolls when the players is right up against the border. This makes hitting enemies appearing on the left impossible, since they pop into existence without giving you any time to react. Unless you have a couple of lives in reserve, I highly doubt youll actually make it through this section.
Given the various issues, it would be easy to dismiss this as yet another rubbish 8-bit arcade conversion. For the most part, it is exactly that, but despite its many problems, theres something weirdly compelling about the game. Provided you learn the strategies/exploits needed to beat the enemies, theres a sense of satisfaction whenever you manage to beat a level. The graphics are actually pretty decent, and most of the moves from the arcade version are present, even if youll only ever want to crouch and punch. If youd picked this up on budget later down the line, it would have passed a rainy afternoon.
Information & Trivia
Video Notes
Related Longplays & Videos
Chapters
00:00 Title screen & music
02:13 Stage 1
03:33 Stage 2
07:14 Stage 3
09:17 Stage 4
11:30 Stage 5
13:59 Stage 6
16:39 Stage 7
19:23 Stage 8
20:43 Ending
#amstrad
#retrogaming
#dragonninja")
