Page 17 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #8
P. 17

frustrating, and the original game is not              inherently better than newer, feature-heavy
         included as part of the package. The last level is     games of exploration is a debate for another
         similar to classic Breakout, but it is only one        time. Yet despite mixed reviews regarding
         (non-repeating) screen.                                updated remakes, game companies should
         Classic: B Modern: C                                   continue churning them out since they can often
                                                                be interesting and sometimes even enjoyable.

         SPACE  I NVADERS  ( ARCADE)  VS.  SPACE
                                                                Brett Weiss is the author of Classic Home Video
         I NVADERS  ( PLAYSTATI ON)
                                                                Games, 1972-1984 (McFarland, 2007) and Classic
         Though not as bad as Galaga: Destination               Home Video Games, 1985-1988 (McFarland, 2009).
         EARTH, Space Invaders for the PlayStation is           To catch up with Brett, check out his blog:
         pretty darn pathetic. The power-ups, additional        brettweisswords.blogspot.com.
         weaponry, and lackluster foes combine to make
         the game much too easy. Even the bosses and
         bonus rounds are incredibly easy to beat. A
         competent rendition of the superior original
         game is included, but won’t replace outstanding
         In Asteroids for the PC, the starkly beautiful C
         versions of Space Invaders on Game Boy and
         Super NES. The arcade version of Space
         Invaders may have grown slightly stale over the
         years, but it’s still an entertaining challenge.
         Classic: B+ Modern: D



                                    ASTEROI DS
                                                ( PC)
                     ( ARCADE)
         ASTEROI DS
                                VS.
         black-and-white vector graphics of the original
         game have been replaced with stunning outer
         space vistas rivaling those seen in a Star Trek
         movie. The basic rotating, thrusting, and rock-
         destroying action remain intact, and the
         keyboard controls work great. New weapons,
         ships, and enemies have been added, as well as
         an engaging two-player simultaneous mode.
         While Asteroids is one of the more effective
         updated remakes, the original game is still more
         addictive and more enjoyable. Luckily, a good
         version of the classic game is included in the
         package.
         Classic: A+ Modern: B

         And there you have it, folks: Classic gaming
         stomps the more technically advanced,
         ultimately less playable, modern renditions of
         said classics by a hefty margin. The
         overwhelming victory of classics in this list does
         not necessarily prove that retrogaming is better
         than modern gaming, but it does help illustrate
         is that remakes are rarely better than the
         original games on which they are based (a
         principle that applies to movies as well).
         Whether older, skill-based “twitch” games are


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