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
- 17 -