Page 19 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #8
P. 19
the florescent blue-and-purple
Sn ea k n' Peek
graphics, the programmers
One of the defining added a soundtrack of atonal
characteristics of video games nursery rhyme favorites.
is their ability to put players in
situations they would never
face in real life -- hitting a Sta r Fox
home run in the bottom of the There is an old adage that says
ninth to win the World Series, “you get what you pay for.” Sneak n' Peak
exploring ancient ruins, teeing This is especially true with
off against Tiger Woods, and Atari 2600 games. When
saving the world by defusing a Mythicon came out with their
nuclear bomb, to give some line of $9.99 cartridges, at a
examples. time when new games sold for
three or four times that
Of course, some video games amount, it was easy to be
put players in situations they skeptical. Yet even meager
could easily experience in real expectations were unfulfilled Star Fox
life -- poker, bowling and by the final product.
tennis, for example -- but even
so, there are situations where Star Fox is a generic side-
playing virtual versions of scrolling shooter in the same
those games might be justified. vein as Defender and Chopper
Perhaps it is raining outside, or Command, except without an
perhaps you lack the necessary interesting premise or
equipment. However, there serviceable graphics. In fact,
isn’t one single good reason for without adequate Swordquest Series
playing a video game version of scenery/landmarks, it is often
"hide and seek." difficult to determine your
movements. An enemy fighter
The majority of the game drone tracks your every
variations in Sneak n' Peek movement, requiring you to
require a second player, thus maneuver around it and either
eliminating the only plausible shoot it or (on the lower
excuse (having no friends) for difficulty) ram into it.
playing the game in the first Sssnake
place. And since the hiding Two factors set Star Fox apart
takes place on-screen, the from mere mediocrity and
person who is "it" has to cover lower it to the craptacular level.
his eyes while the other person The first is the need to collect
hides. Can you really trust crystals that periodically
them not to look? To make appear on the surface below
matters more interesting, some you. Due to touchy controls,
of the hiding places defy the which scroll the entire screen
laws of physics. Hiding in a with the slightest movement, Skeet Shoot
closet or behind a couch makes collecting crystals is about as
sense, but in the middle of a easy as landing on a pinhead find yourself directly above
floor or under the house itself? using a pogo stick. You'll find one, the aforementioned
yourself constantly enemy drone is there to
Just in case you weren't scared overshooting the crystals, and destroy you. The second factor
off by the mundane premise or if you are fortunate enough to that makes Star Fox a game to
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