mcoorlim
Reviews
Arcadia (ZX Spectrum)
Imagine's first release with unique elements but poor presentation
The Good
The game boasts a unique countdown wave mechanic in which you need to outlast, rather than destroy a wave.
The Bad
There's huge swing in difficulty from wave to wave, the controls are awkwardly placed on the keyboard, and the audio is limited to an occasional isolated tone
The Bottom Line
The change in context - survival rather than destruction - is refreshing if you've been playing a lot of fixed screen shooters, but doesn't entirely make up for the poor presentation.
By mcoorlim on February 21, 2023
Airline (ZX Spectrum)
A simple economic sim ruled by random events
The Good
The game has few moving parts from the player's perspective; a simple approach to economic simulation that can appeal to casual gamers.
The Bad
Random events play an enormous role in the player's success or failure.
The Bottom Line
What few choices are available to the player are rendered meaningless by the influence of random chance.
By mcoorlim on February 21, 2023
Boogie Woogi Jungle (MSX)
Like Lode Runner without the strategy
The Good
A twist on the lode runner formula giving you a gun instead of the ability to dig.
The Bad
This eliminates the tactical gameplay choices inspired by the digging mechanic in favor of a simple run and gun formula, without the graphics or foes that makes that genre appealing
The Bottom Line
Begs the comparison to Lode Runner and suffers for it.
By mcoorlim on February 21, 2023
Sparkie (MSX)
One of the few games in which you play a bomb
The Good
Sparkie has a cute conceit - you're a bomb running around a maze with a water gun, chased by flames.
The Bad
Music is a bit repetitive.
The Bottom Line
Missed its mark - would have been an arcade banger in 1982, but for 83 its gameplay and music seem dated.
By mcoorlim on February 21, 2023
Pac & Pal (Arcade)
Not a bad game but a bad pac-man
The Good
Interesting mechanics in the friendly ghost Miru giving you a bit of tension as she brings collectibles to the ghost pen.
The Bad
All of the power-ups are functionally the same: fire a short projectile to stun ghosts. The maze feels very sparse compared to earlier titles.
The Bottom Line
A franchise game carries with it certain expectations that color the gameplay experience; Pac & Pal doesn't feel like a Pac-Man game, and might have been better received without that small disappointment.
By mcoorlim on February 21, 2023
Pac-Kong (Atari 2600)
Arbitrarily difficult, arbitrarily fun
The Good
Pac-Kong is simple to grasp for an atari 2600 game of this era - the rules are simple, you want to avoid "things" and get to the top of the screen. It's a platformer, no more, no less.
The Bad
The controls are janky as heck. Your jumps are more like teleports, at least on the way up. The sprite flicker is particularly heinous, so much so that it feels like you're killed by invisible enemies half the time. Getting up to the top of the screen is more a matter of blind luck than skill.
The Bottom Line
Fun for extremely short bursts, until you notice how the dangers are arbitrary rather than challenging.
By mcoorlim on October 19, 2020