Lord Spencer's Gaming (and other stuff) Blog

The onset of 3D graphics in the 5th generation led industry leaders in animation, such as DreamWorks, to gravitate towards making video games. Some of those games, like Skullmonkeys , were visual and graphical masterpieces that still hold up today. However, other than its brilliant clay aesthetic and animations, the game is not a particularly engaging platformer at all. You are probably better served watching many of the brilliant claymation movies of the 90s instead. #A47: Skullmonkeys:- Year: 1998. Genre: Platformer. Publisher: Electronic Arts. Developer: The Neverhood, Inc.

It looks like the quality of games in Retro Sanctuary's Top 100 PS1 games list is starting to be more consistent right at the halfway mark (games 60 to 51). Sure, there is still the questionable inclusion of games that are better on the PC ( Exhumed and X-Com ), but the majority of the choices here are a combination of both very good and important games, even if most are from genres that have improved beyond what we see here. My biggest criticism of these options is the low position of Suikoden II in the overall list. In my opinion, considering both its objective quality and how it aged much better than many games on the PS1, it is a game that is easily among the top games on the PS1. In fact, I would put it in my Top 10 list, and that's by virtue of it being one of the best, if not the best RPG on the system. As for the other games on the list, I only reviewed the Tenchu and Tomba games, and you can read why I think they are very good PS1 games in my reviews. From the gam...

The PS1 era saw the birth of many new franchises in gaming and a common trend between many of them is how the first game introduced core concepts and ideas that the sequel then improved upon and elevated to new rights. In many ways, Tenchu 2 looks like it follows that trend. With improved mechanics, improved mission structure, and a more focus on narrative than the original. Yet, the game also inexplicably takes as many steps back as forward. It has a less varied mission structure, and its PS1 visuals are not saved by the good design and art direction of the first game. Most criminally, there is no soundtrack in the game's levels unlike the excellent soundscape of the original. As such, Tenchu 2 ends up in exactly the same position as its predecessor, but with entirely different weaknesses and strengths. #57: Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins:- Year: 2000. Genre: 3D Stealth Action. Publisher: Acquire, Activision. Developer: Acquire.

The advent of the PS1 and 3D gaming led to new, ambitious, and creative developers entering the field, and as they crowded each other in an established market, it was clear that successful games from non-established franchises needed something creative and interesting to differentiate them. Enter Tenchu , which is probably the first successful implementation of Stealth Action gameplay in a 3D space. From its stealth-centric gameplay, the Sengoku era Ninja setting sprang through. It succeeded and cemented Acquire as a full-fledged developer to this day. Yet, as can be seen from Metal Gear Solid just six months later, the many technical difficulties that Tenchu couldn't solve drag it considerably down, and it exists more as an interesting relic today than the cutting-edge masterpiece that it may have been at its release. #57(S): Tenchu: Stealth Assassins:- Year: 1998. Genre: 3D Stealth Action. Publisher: Sony, Activision. Developer: Acquire.

The first Tomba! was a genre-bending game that had a lot of great ideas in combining Action Platforming mechanics with Adventure game concepts to make an entirely unique game. It succeeded at that, but it also had its share of flaws in mechanics, pace, and direction. Thankfully, the concept didn't die with the first game, and the team had their chance to correct most of the first's flaws with a much better second game. #59: Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return:- Year: 1999, 2000. Genre: Action Platformer Adventure. Publisher: Whoopee Camp, Sony. Developer: Whoopee Camp.

Designed and directed by a previous Capcom visionary, Tomba! was meant to be a unique game that defies description. While ostensibly being an Action-Platformer, it also included several RPG and Adventure game elements that it is closer to describe it as a 2D Legend of Zelda than anything else. So, in effect, the game does succeed in being a unique genre-defying title, which partially explains its critical acclaim and cult-favorite status. However, in playing it years later, it has several pacing and direction issues that are difficult to ignore, and these flaws keep it from becoming the masterpiece that it's designed to be. #59(S): Tomba!:- Year: 1997. 1998. Genre: Action Platformer Adventure. Publisher: Whoopee Camp, Sony. Developer: Whoopee Camp.

The PlayStation 1 had such a massive library of games that it is impossible to do it justice with a simple top 100 games list. As such, I decided to supplement my usual review of a top 100 games list (this time, I used the top 100 PS1 games list from Retro Sanctuary ) with other games picked up from different lists. This parallel "Additional List" is not numbered in any ordered way, so the quality of the titles theoretically varies from top to bottom with no rhyme or reason. In this report, ten franchises are featured, with the prequel of three of them, for a total of thirteen games. Of these games, I fully reviewed eight and casually played the rest. Based on these reviews, I find that it's absolutely criminal that no Mega Man Legends game is included in the Retro Sanctuary list. Also, three games are heads and shoulders above many of the selections in that list: Legend of Mana, Kartia: The World of Fate , and Brigandine , with Incredible Crisis deserving a spo...