The Retro Gaming Thread

[Spark Of Spirit]

I'll make a mini-list if you want, just give me a bit. 

How do Club Nintendo rewards work?  Wouldn't mind getting Super Punch Out! really.

Do you have a Club Nintendo account yet? If you do just skip the first few steps.

1) Go to clubnintendo.com
2) Create an account
3) Get coins by registering games you own
4) Spend coins on the site by either buying merchandise with the coins, or instead getting games
5) Click on the game you want in the Get Games & Rewards section
6) Coins are spent and a download voucher is received
7) Go to the Wii shop on your Wii and redeem your code
8 ) Download the game and enjoy

They seem to offer two games a month, one of which changes every fifteen days or so. I'm glad they do since I have a bunch of backlogged coins that I otherwise wouldn't spend.

[Commode]

I do have a Club Nintendo account, but I don't use it much.  I just registered my 3DS XL and got 160 points for it.  Gonna register The Last Story, Xenoblade, Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Galaxy 2, New Super Mario Bros 2, Mario Kart 7, and Sonic Generations.  Also have a whole bunch of VC games that apparently can be registered, Jesus.

[Avaitor]

I've been meaning to ask, do you only get Club Nintendo points for Nintendo-made games? Those are the only ones I've registered so far, which is why I'm wondering.

[Spark Of Spirit]

The Turbografx-16 is probably the best "one system wonder" there is as Hudson's only system. It was mostly a haven for shmups, but there are some gems in every genre and a few of which we never got over here (like Double Dragon II which is supposed to be great), but to keep it simple I'll try to mention games you can actually get either via the VC or PSN.





Air Zonk



Air Zonk is schmup, but it is amazingly weird, bent, and cartoony. It's also completely easy for anyone to get into, making it a great game even for those without a love for the genre. Personally, I prefer old school shmups (Pre-Radiant Silvergun) before they started relying too much on strange scoring systems and gimmicks and this is one of the best.


Ys Book I & II



Again, this is like Zelda 1 meets Final Fantasy 1 with the simplest, yet most addictive, way of fighting monsters yet put into a game. You ram into your enemies at angles. The story is a simple fairy-tale yet done with an air of mystique about it which the simple writing helps to mask even more. The series became really popular, but IMO, this is still one of the best entries in it.


Bonk's Revenge



The original Bonk's Adventure was good, but a little dry for my taste. This sequel basically fixes the issues from the original by making the level design a lot more varied and rich, and the game is great for it. Bonk III is good too, but this is the best entry.


Castlevania: Rondo Of Blood [Dracula X]



The prequel to SOTN, this is probably the best Castlevania game. If for any reason other than the jumping finally works well, but the superb level design, weapons, unlocks, and soundtrack, make this probably the best TG16 game, too. Basically, if you're a classic gamer, you shouldn't pass this up.


Bomberman '94


*Yeah, I can't find a cover of the TG-16 version*

Bomberman '94 has probably one of the best single player modes in the series adding animals and environmental puzzles to the game, yet still manages to retain the mutiplayer charm in single play- which is a pretty good feat considering. Honestly, this is the best Bomberman game you can get on any download service to date and probably the only one you need (fans like me notwithstanding) until someone either releases Saturn Bomberman or Hi-Ten Bomberman.


Blazing Lazers



There are few traditional space shooters that I personally would always recommend every time (GUN NAC, Axelay, and R-Type 1 aside), but Blazing Lazers is staunchly traditional in every aspect, yet manages to somehow avoid the tedium most games of its type tend to fal into. The game has perfect difficulty, great level design, and fun power ups... and it was released on the VC at the same time as Streets Of Rage 2 and DKC2 yet its just as great which shows you how good it is.


Dragon's Curse


*Again, the TG16 version is way better*

This is a Metroidvania game with a platforming and Zelda II bent. While most debate what the best version of each Wonderboy game is, this is easily the best version of Wonderboy III with a great soundtrack, simplistic direction (getting lost isn't going to happen too much) and clever transformations make it a great game to start with in the series.


Lords Of Thunder



The schmup made for Avaitor. With epic metal music playing over gorgeous 2D animated fantasy backgrounds, a great weapon system, Mega Man style level selection, and diabolical bosses, this is probably the best non-traditional shmup there is. I know I've listed three of them so far, but they are all quite different, and all worth playing.


New Adventure Island



Adventure Island games are hard to recommend because of how simple platformers they are, but this one is also the hardest without question. While the original is the most well known, and II and III open up the gameplay more, this game is almost like the Lost Levels for Adventure Island only less cheap and more plain hard. If you like the genre, don't miss out on this one.


Ninja Spirit



Unfortunately, this might have been removed from download services recently, but either way this is a great action platformer. If you can imagine the original Legend Of Kage (the bad one, not the good DS sequel) improved and mixed with Ninja Gaiden then you'd be close. Sort of like the Neutopia games fill in the gaps between Zelda 1 and ALTTP, this game feels like the link between pre-Ninja Gaiden ninja games and what they became with games like Shinobi, Ninja Gaiden, and other such games.


That is what I would consider the ten best games that I've played on the system. Lord Dalek might have other choices, though.

[Spark Of Spirit]

I've been meaning to ask, do you only get Club Nintendo points for Nintendo-made games? Those are the only ones I've registered so far, which is why I'm wondering.

A few third party games have codes with them, but all VC games and eshop games regardless of who made them get coins now it seems.

[Avaitor]

As always, great list! I needed this to get some ides for what to download next.

[Spark Of Spirit]

I think you'd like those ones. But man, I wish someone would bring over that version of Double Dragon II.

I could do one for the Neo Geo, too, if you like. Though it might be a bit too fighter heavy. 

[Avaitor]

Sounds good!

[Spark Of Spirit]

The Neo Geo was the "master race" of gaming back in the mid-90s, featuring 100% faithful arcade ports that blew away every system at the time and a hefty price tag, the Neo Geo was and is something few gamers actually got to experience despite how much they wanted to play it.


Metal Slug X



This is where to start with Metal Slug. If you like Contra, then there is no chance you won't think this game is amazing. There isn't much to say except play it!


The Last Blade 2



Oh wow, weapon fighters rarely get better than this. In many ways this feels like Rurouni Kenshin if it was made a fighting game.


Ninja Commando



So there's like these ninjas traveling through time fighting other ninjas and things blow up. Nobody has ever played this game, it seems, but it is fantastic.


Real Bout Fatal Fury Special



This feels like the middle-ground between SFII and Garou a game that is as simple as SFII yet has a flow almost as good as Garou. Really, this is one of the best fighters out there, IMO, and probably the best Fatal Fury game that isn't Mark Of The Wolves.


Shock Troopers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cYxVePm3w6o

Watch that video and tell me you don't want to play that right now.


King Of Fighters '98



There are a few team battle fighting games out there, but... few are better than this one. The insane roster, the great grooves, and sweet graphics make this still one of the series peaks. Unfortunately, it's not on the VC yet but hopefully that will change soon enough.


Top Hunter



This is sort of like an arcade platformer with plain switching like Fatal Fury thrown in. It's not quite as perfect as it could be, but it is well worth playing.


Sengoku 3



This is apparently one of the best beat em ups ever. I say 'apparently' because I have yet to get my hands on it and it has never been re-released, but I will mention it in hopes others will play it.


Garou: Mark Of The Wolves



IMO, probably the best one on one fighter yet made. Unfortunately it has only been re-released on XBLA so far, so unless you have a Dreamcast playing it will be quite hard.


Metal Slug 3



I'll end it with a bang. Basically take Metal Slug and throw in more everything. More paths, more enemies, and more action, and you have my personal favorite Neo Geo game. Though playing X first should be a priority, otherwise the scope of this can't really be appreciated as much.


There are a lot of other great games for the system, but these are ones I like the most for the system. IMO, you can't go wrong with any of them.

[Avaitor]

Also great!

Now I just gotta get a Wii points card or two and bump up my collection.

[Spark Of Spirit]

Yeah, I'm grabbing a few for when I get my Wii-U and can take them off my SD card. It would be nice to have a legal and easily accessible retro game collection.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

Would you happen to know if the XBLA version of Garuo: Mark of the Wolves is any good? I was considering checking it out after I beat Castlevania: SOTN.

Also, I'm open to any recommendations of classic 2D fighters to play that are available via XBLA.

I'll take the same recommendation for classic games available via XBLA in general, but more along the lines of what I would probably like, such as action/adventure and/or platforming. I know that there was that Monster World collection that you recommended, but I don't know much about what those games are like, and I'm trying to consider my options for other classic games available via XBLA as well.

[Spark Of Spirit]

Garou: Mark Of The Wolves, King Of Fighters '98, Neo Geo Battle Coliseum, and King Of Fighters '02 are all on XBLA and worth playing. The online is terrible, though.

You can also pick up Metal Slug 3, Streets Of Rage Collection, Perfect Dark, Banjo Kazooie, DOOM II, and Monster World Collection (these are Metroidvania games, though you should start with Monster World IV) are probably the best classic games you can get on the service.

I think Samurai Shodown II might be there as well, but I don't have that version.

[Rynnec]

I'd check out Garou as well. If it ever gets put up on PSN that is.

[gunswordfist]

I didn't need Neo Geo had arcade perfect ports.

I'm pretty sure I played Shock Troopers at gametap back when gametap was good. It was horribly slow on the computer I played it on so I don't have much to say about it.