Favorite Classic Game Mechanic

[EternalGamer]

Lately, I find myself playing more Live Arade titles than anything else and this is mainly due to the focus on traditional game mechanics that are like a comfort food to me.

Playing these has reminded me of just how rewarding some of these mechanics can be regardles of how often they are recycled. For example, I absolutely love traditional beat 'em ups. I love the satisfying thud when you punch opponents in the face and I love the ridiculous aesthetics of what Japanese designers apparently think "gangs" were like in the 1980's (apparently, they were all about dressing up in ridiculous costumes with an alternate focus on S&M play and gay camp).

I have discovered that I will play pretty much ANY game that falls in this genre and generally have a pretty good time. There is just something about jump kicking, punching and body slamming kitchy "gang" members that I cannot get enough of. So much so that I have completed all the achievements in the 360 release of Double Dragon and only have one left for Streets of Rage 2. The former is not exactly the best demonstration of the genre, but the latter is fantastic. I really hope we eventually see Live Co-op versions of the rest of the Streets series, the Final Fight series, Die Hard Arcade, Ninja Warriors, Battletoads: The arcade game, etc.

So my question is, which classic game mechanic do you find the most enjoyable and what is your favorite game that delivers it?

[Shodan2020]

Die Hard Arcade would be fucking sweet. I really like beat-em ups. Dungeons and Dragons: Tower of Doom or Shadows Over Mystara would fucking rock. It would be a 4 player beat-em up RPG romp! :)

[EternalGamer]

Yeah, I'd take just about any of those great 4 player co-op magic ones (I love some Golden Axe also, would love to see the REAL Golden Axe 2 show up on Live). Guardian Heroes would be my number one pick, though sadly, I doubt that will ever happen.

But truth be told, it is the "urban gang" ones that I love the most. I'm really hoping we get the Final Fight, Streets of Rage and Double Dragon series in their entirety before all is said and done on Live Arcade. I never gave the Streets of Rage series the appropriate amount of attention on the Genesis, and playing through 2 has given me a great respect for the series. I'm really hoping 1 and 3 show up on Live as well.

[Adam Blue]

I'm a SHMUP fanatic. I have a ton and still try to get a hold of others I've missed. I just love the difficulty.

[EternalGamer]

I'm a SHMUP fanatic. I have a ton and still try to get a hold of others I've missed. I just love the difficulty.

I really can't wait for this genre to take off on Live Arade with Co-op games. Heavy Weapon was ok, and Aegis Wing got a lot of play from me, but when stuff like Ikaruga and Radiant Silvergun start showing up, Live Arade will dominate even more of my free time.

[Adam Blue]

I really can't wait for this genre to take off on Live Arade with Co-op games. Heavy Weapon was ok, and Aegis Wing got a lot of play from me, but when stuff like Ikaruga and Radiant Silvergun start showing up, Live Arade will dominate even more of my free time.

It's looking like XBLA might make the genre popular again. I'm curious as to how good Omega V is doing.

[Wolvie]

Final Fight was one of the most memorable games of my youth. Not sure why I loved the game so much, but doing the wall jump with Guy and kicking the crap out of a whole group of thugs was awesome.

Also Contra and Metal slug were important to me, but I had to pick one, so I went with the one I liked more.

[EternalGamer]

It's looking like XBLA might make the genre popular again. I'm curious as to how good Omega V is doing.

If Omega Five had Co-op, I would have definitely bought it. I think Live Arcade is by far the most interesting "platform." It is a much more appealing approach to establishing a casual games market than the Wii waggle. Games at $5-$15 in price, both classic and new with paired down game mechanics that make them approachable to almost anyone.

[EternalGamer]

Final Fight was one of the most memorable games of my youth. Not sure why I loved the game so much, but doing the wall jump with Guy and kicking the crap out of a whole group of thugs was awesome.

Also Contra and Metal slug were important to me, but I had to pick one, so I went with the one I liked more.

Did two and three ever come out at the Arcades? If so, they'd be perfect candidates for the Live Arcade treatment. But I'm not sure Capcom has even started pursuing retro Arcade releases.

[Wolvie]

Did two and three ever come out at the Arcades? If so, they'd be perfect candidates for the Live Arcade treatment. But I'm not sure Capcom has even started pursuing retro Arcade releases.

Sorry dude Final Fight 2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fight_2) and Final Fight 3 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fight_3) were SNES exclusives. Ya might see them on Wii arcade someday or maybe a compilation disk, but I doubt you'll ever see it on XBLA.

[EternalGamer]

Well, part of what makes these games so appealing is online co-op play. But perhaps there is hope for Final Fight 1 showing up. Oh well, Streets was a better series anyway. :p

While we are on the topic, though, I'm wondering how exactly that licensing works. Is it impossible for third parties to release former SNES games onto other platforms w/o Nintendo's permission? That wouldn't seem to be the case if we look at something like Capcom's collections: Megman, Ghouls n' Ghost, 1942 etc. While the majority of those games originated on the Nes and SNES and were exclusive to those platforms, the collections have showed up on the PS2, Xbox, and PSP.

[Thrak]

I have to give my nod to platformers. They're pretty much the pinnacle of gaming to me. The PS2 was truly an amazing system for quality platformers and pseudo-platformers. To think that for 3-4 years straight each fall would give a new Ratchet, Sly, or Jak game is incredible. I just picked up Sly 3 today actually for cheap.

But going back to XBLA, what about some old-school platformers like Jazz Jackrabbit, Commander Keen, the original Duke Nukems. Those would definitely get my purchase.

I'm always up for an arcade game, EG, so definitely send me an invite if you see me around. I do need to beef up my beat'em up quotient though.

[Wolvie]

I'm wondering how exactly that licensing works. Is it impossible for third parties to release former SNES games onto other platforms w/o Nintendo's permission? That wouldn't seem to be the case if we look at something like Capcom's collections: Megman, Ghouls n' Ghost, 1942 etc.

Good point, unless Nintendo already has the rights nailed down, MS could step in and buy them.

[ElectricMonk]

If Omega Five had Co-op, I would have definitely bought it. I think Live Arcade is by far the most interesting "platform." It is a much more appealing approach to establishing a casual games market than the Wii waggle. Games at $5-$15 in price, both classic and new with paired down game mechanics that make them approachable to almost anyone.

It's amusing you would praise pared down mechanics and then say you didn't buy it because it had no co-op in the same paragraph.

[EternalGamer]

It's amusing you would praise pared down mechanics and then say you didn't buy it because it had no co-op in the same paragraph.

That doesn't have anything to do with the mechanics of gameplay, which refers the way the game is played. It just means two people are capable of enjoying those mechanics simultaneously.

And most shooters have had 2 player modes since the NES era. Online Co-op is just the current manifestation. I don't think it is expecting too much to see its inclusion, even in lower budget titles. The re-releases of Contra, Super C, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe and Metal Slug 3 all have co-op play, and most of them were $5 titles.

[Shadowstorm]

I like the shoot 'em up style of gameplay. CoD4 best delivers it.

For me.

[Baron Samedi]

If Omega Five had Co-op, I would have definitely bought it.

Omega 5 is a one player game. Co-op just isn't fun.

Is anyone even posting on topic? My favorite two: double jump and wall jump. Castlevania for the first, Metroid for the second (with Mario a close second). Power-sliding in Mario Kart is also a shit ton of fun. Nothing beats back and forth, back and forth. And somebody's gotta give the shout out to Hadouken!

[EternalGamer]

Omega 5 is a one player game. Co-op just isn't fun.


Perhaps this is true given the current way the game is designed. I don't know because I only played the demo once. What I do know is that I like playing shooters and beat em ups with my friends over Live and there are plenty of shooters coming that ARE fun with co-op. So I saved my points for the pending Ikaruga.


Is anyone even posting on topic? My favorite two: double jump and wall jump. Castlevania for the first, Metroid for the second (with Mario a close second). Power-sliding in Mario Kart is also a shit ton of fun. Nothing beats back and forth, back and forth. And somebody's gotta give the shout out to Hadouken!

Those are some very specific game mechanics. I was referring more to a general type of mechanic because, once you get that specific, the conversation basically just becomes another "what are your favorite games" discussion.

[LionEyez]

Voted for beat-em-up. Things like Double Dragon and TMNT make me feel nostalgic.

[Bad_Buddha]

I'm partial to turn-based hex-mapped military games, myself.

[antinous165]

Voted for beat-em-up. Things like Double Dragon and TMNT make me feel nostalgic.

You know I thought that too. I don't know how many shiny quarters I threw into Double Dragon as a kid, but I recently got the XBL version which I beleive is the exact copy, and it did nothing for me. I did dig out the old 16 bit Nintendo and had some Super MB goodness that lasted much longer than it should have. Damn. I thought I was a baller and a brawler, and it turns out I just like to hop, skip and jump.

[Ancalagon]

Platformers for me. I have been playing the Classic Megaman series recently - those games are still so awesome, they just cant be beaten.

And I was thinking, back in the day, platformers wouldnt have been called platformers. The reason I say this, is that in the 80's, no other perspective was available. there was no 1st person or 3rd person (okay I lie there was 1st person in some rare cases).

So a platformer was probably just called an action game.

[EternalGamer]

Platformers for me. I have been playing the Classic Megaman series recently - those games are still so awesome, they just cant be beaten.

And I was thinking, back in the day, platformers wouldnt have been called platformers. The reason I say this, is that in the 80's, no other perspective was available. there was no 1st person or 3rd person (okay I lie there was 1st person in some rare cases).

So a platformer was probably just called an action game.

Well, there were plenty of overhead view games and 3/4ths view like Zelda, Ikara Warriors, and first Person view like Shadowgate and Dragon Warrior. And games with depth movement in addition to left and right movement (most beat em ups).

[Johan]

Gradius. Love it.

I'm partial to turn-based hex-mapped military games, myself.

Got a suggestion or two for sites with more info. on such games? I'm interested, myself...:)

[sleepbox]

Space shooters...stayed at the 'rents house over the weekend and played some Q3 Arena and it remains as timeless as ever!

[Baron Samedi]

Space shooters...stayed at the 'rents house over the weekend and played some Q3 Arena and it remains as timeless as ever!

Q3A still has the best FPS jump ever. It just feels right. Metroid Prime comes close, though.

[Bad_Buddha]

Got a suggestion or two for sites with more info. on such games? I'm interested, myself...:)

Steel Panthers:World at War (http://www.matrixgames.com/games/downloads.asp?gid=297) is a free update of the Steel Panthers system and is a classic.

The Ardennes Offensive 2 (http://www.fileplanet.com/129034/120000/fileinfo/The-Ardennes-Offensive-2) is another classic that is now free.

Web Grognards (http://www.grognard.com/compgame.html#a8) is a good place to start your research.

The Wargamer (http://www.wargamer.com/default.asp) is another valuable resource.

The Grognards and Wargamers can be pretty hardcore. They love a game where the water used by the Italians to cook their pasta is taken into account. :rolleyes:

[Deunnero]

I grew up playing Double Dragon at the arcade and River City Ransom at home ... easy choice.

[biosc1]

I miss a solid co-op beat 'em up. XBLA Streets of Rage 2 really helped satiate my thirst. I remember purchasing it and, when my buddy came over to play some RB6, I threw on SOR2 instead...he went "what the?"...then an hour later, we were still playing...we relived our youth...days of sitting in front of my Sega CD.

[Worldcrafter]

So a platformer was probably just called an action game.
You're right. They were often put in the Action or Arcade genres.

(Platformers were my choice too.)

[fitbabits]

I'm a fan of all three game mechanics you mention and can't pick one over the other. Hence, no vote from me.

[EternalGamer]

I miss a solid co-op beat 'em up. XBLA Streets of Rage 2 really helped satiate my thirst. I remember purchasing it and, when my buddy came over to play some RB6, I threw on SOR2 instead...he went "what the?"...then an hour later, we were still playing...we relived our youth...days of sitting in front of my Sega CD.

I've played Streets of Rage 2 co-op over live with friends a lot. And generally it runs pretty smoothly. But same console is nice because you have save states. $5 is a bargain for it. It was a far superior game to its counterpart, Final Fight in almost every aspect except graphics. It's faster, has a lot more variety in terms of moves, far more enemies on screen, and more interesting enemy types and level variety. And even in terms of graphics it still holds up perfectly fine.