New To Together Retro? Check out the introduction to the club

What’s this?  A double feature not featuring Godzilla?  That’s right boys and girls.  We thought that since we are in the season of giving, we at Racketboy should give our followers of Together Retro a little present.  This month we have not one, but two excellent games from up for our monthly gaming sessions.  We know many of you are not into horror games so you sat out on Resident Evil last month, but this month everyone can dive into one of two arcade multidirectional shooters.  The two chosen titles are Wizards of Wor, the 1981 Midway Scifi classic, and everyone’s favorite gameshow outside of the Price is Right – SMASH TV.  But enough of this, lets get into why we are blowing things up this month.
(Since we are doing two titles, for simplicity, we have two separate Together Retro write ups.)
Special Note: Stay tuned for this month’s RetroGaming with Racketboy podcast — it will go along nicely with these two featured games

Wizard of Wor

History:
Released in 1981, Wizard of Wor (often mislabeled as Wizard of War) put the player in control of a Worrior, a nare-do-well space hero of some kind.  The Worriors travel through the maze fighting off an array of monsters called worlings (formal names are Burwors, Garwors, Thorwors, and occasionally the bonus Worlucks).  These worlings are under the control of the Wizard, who also likes to show up occasionally.  Your objective is to survive in the labyrinth as long as possible.  Simple concept with some really unique quirks.

Famous as one of the first games to use synthesized speech, Wizard of Wor is at its heart just a labyrinth.  A labyrinth full of space
monsters and a taunting wizard, but a labyrinth none the less.  Many gamers should remember this title from the 2007 PAX keynote in which Will Weaton recalls his love of the game.  Even to this day the game holds one of the most gloomy atmosphere for a well loved and respected game (typically the gloomy or horror games get put off to the side of the mainstream).  Its creepy music, disappearing badguys, and taunting speech is the stuff nightmares are made of, just like the Never Ending Story and Return to Oz.  Wizard of Wor also added in a unique counter-op style of gameplay in that you score points for not only defeating enemies, but for defeating your teammate.  Using a teammate can make for an interesting set of tactics (ie stand in a corridor back to back and fire at anything that moves), but you do have to worry that they can turn on you at any second.

Controls:
One joystick and one button makes it one of the simplest game we will feature in Together Retro, but don’t you worry about the difficulty. In the arcade, the joystick has two contacts in each direction.  If you tap your controller in a direction your character will turn that way, if you hold it that way they will move.  While the button fires your gun, obviously.  Now movement is kinda tricky based on the perspective.  While the maze is seen from the top down perspective, the characters are seen from the side.  This makes for alittle bit of a mind screw in that you end up walking on nothing or the walls.  It is a unique style and really makes you think the first couple rounds.

Recommended Ports:
While we are going to favor the arcade version the most, there are several good ports if you would rather use those.  The Commodore64 version is fantastic, so is the Atari 800 version.  However the Midway Arcade Treasures 2 version is going to be the easiest to obtain (however the Gamecube version of Wizard of Wor has bad sound problems).  It was also released on the Atari 2600 and 5200, but I cannot comment on those versions.  Now if you want to buy an actual arcade cabinet, depending on the condition they will go for about $500 to $2000 (almost 10 years of attending coin operated auctions and eBay in consideration for the prices).  At the last auction I saw one for sale (Fall of 08) a standard cabinet went for alittle over $400 but needed a new screen and controls.

Smash TV

History:
From the minds of Eugene Jarvis and Mark Turmell comes one of the truest spiritual successor to Robotron 2084, Smash TV.  Jarvis created Robotron in the 80s and with heavy influence from The Running Man and one can only imagine a love for oneliners, Smash TV was given to gamers in the arcade in 1990.  Straying from his earlier works scifi world, Smash TV takes place inside of one of the most violent gameshows ever conspired.  Set in the future year 1999, Smash TV is the story of lucky contestants that get to compete in the gruesome fragfest for money, fame, and cutting edge technology like VCR and 2600 inch tvs!  The gameplay is fairly simple in that you move through the rooms trying no to die and kill everything as quickly as possible.  However unlike our other title, Smash TV features a standard overhead view and an overzealous announcer who has so many great quotes: “TOTAL
CARNAGE! I love it.”

Each Arena has three levels and then a final boss fight.  Each level is broken up into a handful of rooms which you get to decide how you wish to proceed and a boss fight at the end.  You will never go to every room on a floor and sometimes you’ll end up running into a horde of badguys far more difficult than you ever imagined possible.  But that is the nature of the game.  Smash TV is about carnage.  Expect to die, expect to get a gameover, expect to plug in a few quarters.  No matter how great you are at games, Smash TV is a different beast.  Ive seen people who have been the best in the world in classic arcade games, die in the first fifteen rooms on their first try (it took them five dollars to beat the game – took me forty or so my first time). However dont let that turn you off.  Before you die you will kill a lot of enemies.  The game will through you powerups just as often as it throws you enemies.  From invincibility to a rocket launcher, the powerups are just as awesome as the enemies you will be fighting.

Controls:
Like its predecessor, Smash TV features a unique dual joystick control scheme.  One joystick moves you while the other lets you shoot in any direction.  Early ports had to make due with a lack of buttons or joysticks in creative ways, more on that below.

Recommended Ports:
I am going to recommend the NES version as one of the best ports in that while parts are toned down, you can use two controllers to emulate the dual joystick mode of the arcade original (or a fourscore and four controllers if you opt for two player).  If you would prefer a more standard port it is featured in the Midway Arcade Treasures compilation for the Gamecube, PS2, and Xbox and is a download for the Xbox 360.

(Note: If you would prefer to have the opinion on an expert on all matters of SmashTV, our resident podcaster dsheinem recently spoke with Mark Turnmell.   Mr. Turnmell stated that the best port is the Super Nintendo one and that the NES one is possibly the worst.)

Emulation Help

If you need any help with attempting to emulate the game, post your problems in our forums and hopefully we’ll be able to help…

Together Retro Discussion

Instead of posting in the comments section of the blog, we will be using the forum for all of our discussion in order to keep things more organized. So play these Midway Classics and talk to us about your thoughts and play experiences in the forums. We want to know your favorite parts, your successes and your failures!

• Wizard of Wor Together Retro Discussion
• Smash TV Together Retro Discussion

New To Together Retro? Check out the introduction to the club

This month for Together Retro, roll up your sleeves, blow the dust off your shotgun, and preparing to wade knee-deep through seas of undead hordes as we play the original Resident Evil.

History

In 1989, Capcom released a Japan-only RPG for the Famicom known as Sweet Home. In this game, five people exploring a mansion to photograph frescoes found themselves trapped inside and facing hordes of monsters and ghosts. The game is considered one of the pioneers of the survival horror genre, and though it didn’t make it outside of Japan, it would leave its mark internationally seven years later. Shinji Mikami, at the time a game designer working for Capcom, was commissioned to do a new horror-themed adventure game, similar to Sweet Home. It would be set in a mansion, feature limited supplies and horrific monsters, and even included loading screens of doors opening, just like the room transitions in Sweet Home. This new adventure game was to be called Biohazard in Japan, or Resident Evil throughout the rest of the world.

Legacy

Not only did Resident Evil become one of the biggest adventure series of the 32-bit generation(and continues to be one of the most well known franchises today), it would also bring the fledgling survival horror genre into the limelight. In fact, Resident Evil was the first to call itself survival horror, though games like Sweet Home, Alone in the Dark, and Clock Tower on the Super Famicom would precede it. And for several years afterward, many survival horror titles would be known as “Resident Evil clones,” often due to use of similar storylines, controls, and characters. Resident Evil is also listed as one of the reasons the PlayStation became the dominant console of the 32-bit generation, though it did see a release on the Sega Saturn.

Controls

Unfortunately, the controls have a tendency to make or break Resident Evil for people, primarily due to the “tank” controls used for movement, where up is forward in the direction your character is facing. What follows are the controls for the original PlayStation release of Resident Evil:

• D-Pad Up – Move forward.
• D-Pad Left – Turn left.
• D-Pad Right – Turn right.
• D-Pad Down – Move backward.
• Start – Open inventory menu
• Select – Nothing
• R1 – Hold to raise and aim weapon
• Circle – Nothing
• Square – Hold to run while moving
• X – Action button, fires weapon when R1 is held
• Triangle – Cancel, exits menus and files.

Ports

	Resident Evil (PS1, Saturn, PC) Released on PlayStation, the game also saw ports to the Sega Saturn (featuring many exclusive monsters, costumes, and a new game mode) and the PC (which included new weapons and costumes, as well as a color version of the original Japanese intro).
	Resident Evil: Director’s Cut (PS1) This version of Resident Evil was released on the PlayStation. It included a new “Arrange Mode” for those who had beaten the game, as well as originally including a demo of Resident Evil 2. New costumes were included, and there is now a chance to get critical hits with weapons. There’s even a beginner mode. The original Japanese intro was meant to be included, though the censored one was put in instead, supposedly on accident. In a bizarre note, the French and German versions of Director’s Cut include the uncensored live action intro. The version available for download on the PlayStation Network is believed to be Director’s Cut.
	Resident Evil: Dual Shock (PS1) Another version only to be released on the PlayStation, it included the features of Director’s Cut, but with vibration features and support for the DualShock analog sticks. A new soundtrack by Mamoru Samuragouchi was put in. A bonus disc with footage from what was supposed to be Resident Evil 2(now known as Resident Evil 1.5) was included with the Japanese release.
	Resident Evil: Deadly Silence (DS) A release for the Nintendo DS, this game was released o commemorate the tenth anniversary of the original release. This version included touch-screen support, a new game mode known as “Rebirth,” which includes more puzzles, usage of the touch screen, and even incorporates the DS microphone, and 4-player multiplayer. Some gameplay changes, such as the quick turn from Resident Evil 3 and the knife button from Resident Evil 4 were added.
	Resident Evil (Gamecube) Sharing the same name of the original release, this is the name of the remake for the Nintendo GameCube. Graphics were updated, the controls were largely redesigned, and all manner of new monsters(including the Crimson Head) and locations were included. There’s also plenty of unlockable game modes and costumes, and even a new self-defense item system, for when zombies get too close.
	Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil (Wii) This is the Wii version of the remake of Resident Evil for GameCube. Functionally, there aren’t many differences beyond the name.

Of all of these versions, it is usually best to start with the original game if possible, though if you can’t stand the controls, try out the remake.

Emulation Help

If you need any help with attempting to emulate the game, post your problems in our forums and hopefully we’ll be able to help:

Together Retro Discussion

Instead of posting in the comments section of the blog, we will be using the forum for all of our discussion in order to keep things more organized. So play Resident Evil and talk to us about your thoughts and play experiences in the forums. We want to know your favorite parts, your successes and your failures!
Resident Evil Discussion

The Dreamcast had lots of great exclusives back in the day, and while Sonic Adventure and Soul Calibur wowed me, Crazy Taxi is actually one the the main games that sold me on the system.  (I didn’t discover Jet Grind Radio until later)  I played the original in the arcade was pleasantly surprised by how original the concept was at the time.  I loved racing games, but Crazy Taxi mixed some of the exciting elements of racing games with some crazy physics and some action-elements, and wrapped it up in a way that only a 90’s Sega arcade game could.  To kick off September 2009 (the 10 year mark for the North American Dreamcast anniversary), we revisit this arcade wonder and hopeful spread the Crazy love to others that haven’t yet experienced it!

The Concept

• Pick up Customers (Identified by dollar signs over their head)
• Take them where they want to go as quickly as possible (follow the arrow)
• Repeat
• As in most great arcade games, the concept is indeed simple, but you need to be quick on your feet and be as efficient as possible to maximize your score.

Refining Your Technique

• The Basics
• Crazy Moves & Combos (for trimming your time down)
• Level Tips: Arcade Level , Original Level

Extra Tips

• Dont stop to far from the customer, this will lose you some time, as the customer is running to your cab.
• Use Crazy Moves to no only save you some time, but which will get you more money via tips
• Mix long runs with short runs, this will help you get more time.
• Like a real cabby, remember the shortcuts around town — it will save you a lot of time.
• “Green” customers have farther destinations and biggest payoff & “Red” customers have close destinations, which are good for when you don’t have much time left.  (and colors in between scale as you might imagine)

Recommended Ports

Maybe some of you have a Crazy Taxi arcade cabinet in your place, but for us mere mortals, we have a handful of solid ports that are easily accessible on some popular platforms for dirt-cheap prices.   While I haven’t played it, Crazy Taxi 3 for the XBox supposedly has remade maps of the original Crazy Taxi arcade stage, but I haven’t heard good things about that port.  And there’s also a GBA port, but while it’s a feat to get that 3D on the portable, it’s not especially playable.  There’s also Crazy Taxi Fare Wars, but that doesn’t come recommended either.

Dreamcast	PS2	Gamecube	PC
Amazon eBay	Amazon eBay	Amazon eBay	Amazon eBay

Together Retro Discussion & High Scores

• Discuss The Game in the Forum
• Post Your High Scores

“I welcome your challenge! You can become the best!”
Captain Commando Victory Screen – Marvel vs Capcom

This month for Together Retro we are going to be playing one of the unsung heroes of the beatemup world, Captain Commando. Many gamers, myself included, were first introduced to the Captain in the stunning 1998 versus fighter Marvel vs Capcom. His unnatural playstyle and crazy tags made him a crowd favorite. It was not until several years later that I discovered that Captain Commando came from a beatemup that did not do terribly well in the United States and has been ported to at least five platforms. And since most gamers I know have never played his selftitled game, well get ready folks, its beatemup time.

History

Released in 1991on the CPS-1 arcade platform, Captain Commando is a textbook arcade beatemup. Joystick and 2 buttons, 4 player, and a host of playable characters makes it blend in with many of the other titles that came out at the same time. What sets it apart, and the reason it was chosen, is that while the game is fun, the game is also funny. One of the playable characters is a baby in a mecha another is a knife wielding mummy named Mack the Knife. Some of the stages and events will have you laughing as well. Beatemups are not the deepest games on the market, however Captain Commando does provide the players with a wide variety of moves to pull while in combat, many of which chain together like a fighting game. By no means is it as deep as Guardian Heroes, but it is a breath of creativity in a genre plagued with cookie cutter titles. And lets be honest, who doesn’t love beating the crap out of something every once and awhile?

As you can guess Captain Commando was swept under the rug for a couple years before being brought back. Sales of Captain Commando must have been low, for this originally designed as a mascot character to disappear for a couple years, but 98 brought him back to where he belongs. The Captain has been a playable character in Marvel vs Capcom, Marvel vs Capcom 2, and Namco x Capcom, while the rest of the commandos have had cameos in Street Fighter Alpha 2’s backgrounds and Tatsunoko vs Capcom.

Recommended Ports

Released on the SNES and PS1 (in Japan) and in the Capcom Generations Vol 2/Remixed packs for the PS2, Xbox, and PSP, you have a whole slew of different ways to play this months choice. But of course, the best version is still the arcade original  (see on eBay)

SNES	Playstation (JP)	PS2	XBox	PSP
Amazon eBay	eBay	Amazon eBay	Amazon eBay	Amazon eBay

Emulation Help

Racketboy Emulation Forum

Together Retro Discussion & High Scores

Discuss The Game in the Forum

Presented by: Fastbilly1 & Racketboy
New To Together Retro? Check out the introduction to the club

In 1995 the video game puzzle scene was changed forever. It in was that year that Sega released Baku Baku, a revolutionary puzzle game in the falling block genre. Of course everyone knew this since Baku Baku is a house hold name… Sarcastic overtones aside, Baku Baku is an arcade puzzle game ported to most Sega consoles and for the most part has gone unnoticed by the general gaming population. Well lets change that. This month for Together Retro, gear up for your attempt at being a zoo keeper and its feeding time.

History

As stated, in 1995 Baku Baku was released in the arcade on the Sega Titan Video hardware. Little fanfare was heard for the arcade release, but the next year it got its biggest boost in popularity outside of Japan. In the spring of 1996 it was released on the Saturn and it was given high marks by many gaming publications – Gamepro even gave it a 5 out of 5 in fun factor.There is not much one can say about the history other than it is a good game that was overlooked by most of the gaming population. Even though it is unneeded, the story for the game is that you are trying to become the royal zoo keeper and must compete with others for the title. If you have ever played a puzzle game the gameplay will be familiar. Simple left or right turn buttons and a joystick are all that you have but as you can imagine, that’s not all there is here.

In Baku Baku blocks come in two types, food and animal. Their may be five of each type of block, but they are still only food and animal. A simple paring mechanism is in place here, ie Dog and Bone, Panda and Bamboo. So when a dog block and a bone block touch, the dog block becomes a big dog head and eats the bone block, and all attached bone blocks. This, of course, leads to combos and endless bizarre gameplay concoctions.

Controls

• Two buttons – rotate left and rotate right
• 8 way joystick
• Two player – obviously the preferred way to play

Recommended Ports

Unless you have the original arcade machine hanging around, you’ll probably want to go for the Saturn version if you have the console handy. (You can also try playing it on an emulator like SSF ).

You could also try get your hands on on the Windows 95, Game Gear, or Master System release. The nice thing about puzzle games is they typically transition well to less powerful hardware. Of course, the Game Gear/Master System versions will emulate easily on a variety of devices.

Sega Saturn	Windows 95	Game Gear	Master System

Emulation Help

Racketboy Emulation Forum

Together Retro Discussion & High Scores

• Discuss The Game in the Forum
• Post Your High Scores Here

Considering Nintendo recently released the new Punch-Out!! for the Wii and the series celebrates its 25th birthday this year, we thought it would be no better time than to feature this wonderful series in the Together Retro Game Club.

About The Series

If you aren’t familiar with the Punch-Out series or just want a trip down memory lane, check out our 25th Anniversary Punch-Out Retrospective.

How to Play

Punch-Out is a wonderful game to just pick up and play.  Like most classic games, the controls aren’t very complicated.  However, normal boxing skills don’t necessarily apply here.  The key to success to to find patterns in your opponents attacks and defend and attack accordingly.  It’s more of a puzzle game than a sports game!  See below for links to more detailed how-tos on StrategyWiki

Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!/Punch-Out!! (NES)

• Getting Started / Controls
• Walkthrough
• Miscellaneous and Cheats

Super Punch-Out!! (SNES)

• Getting Started / Controls
• Walkthrough

Punch-Out!! (Wii)

• Getting Started
• Walkthrough
• Secrets

Punch Out!! (Arcade)

• Getting Started
• Walkthrough

Super Punch-Out!! (Arcade)

• Getting Started/Controls

Discussion

Instead of trying to discuss all these games in the comments, we have these threads set up in the forum for each game

• Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!/Punch-Out!! (NES)
• Super Punch-Out!! (SNES)
• Punch-Out!! (Wii)
• Punch Out!! and Super Punch-Out!! (Arcade Versions)