• Tag Archives retrogaming

  • Dragon’s Lair (Coleco ADAM)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    The Coleco Adam was a very short-lived computer system based largely on the ColecoVision video game system. Because of its short-lived nature and ability to play ColecoVision games, there were really very few games made specifically for it. One of the few was a port of the arcade game Dragon’s Lair. Released in 1984, the port for the Coleco Adam was the first home port of Dragon’s Lair but others would follow in a couple years. A ColecoVision port was apparently in progress but was never completed.

    The arcade game used a Laser Disc for full motion video. As the player controlling the protagonist Dirk, you had to time all your moves perfectly to avoid death. The Adam port obviously didn’t have a laser disc and was really only loosely based on the arcade game. You still controlled dirk and still had to time things just right but no full motion video and the levels were somewhat different. There were a total of nine levels in this version with the last being the confrontation with the dragon, Singe.

    All things considered it wasn’t a bad port or a terrible game. It just isn’t my favorite type of game. Even the arcade based laser disc version wasn’t really my cup of tea. I find the whole memorizing the timings of specific moves for specific levels to be annoying and frustrating. However, there is no doubt that Dragon’s Lair was revolutionary for its time. Given the fact that there are officially endorsed emulated versions of the arcade game, there probably really isn’t much of a reason to seek out the Adam version unless you are a collector and just love the Adam.

    Screen shots above are all from the Coleco version of the game.


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  • Rocky Super Action Boxing (ColecoVision)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Rocky Super Action Boxing (Coleco, 1983)

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/171630803446/theactioneer-rocky-super-action-boxing-coleco

    If the ColecoVision had a fatal flaw, it was that many of the games released by Coleco looked beautiful (for the time) but played awful. Rocky Super Action Boxing is one such game. The graphics were very well done for the time period (1983) but the game play left something to be desired.

    Rocky Super Action Boxing was the first game based on a Rocky license and it was based on Rocky III. It was released exclusively for the ColecoVision in 1983 and was also compatible with the Coleco Adam. An Intellivision version was apparently planned but never released. The game lets you select either Rocky Balboa or Clubber Lang and you can play against the computer or another player. There are four difficulty levels that each correspond to a number of one-minute rounds (from two to fifteen). There is a point system in which you are rewarded points on where you hit your opponent (guard, head, body) so you can win based on points or via knockout. Moves consist of head shots, body shots, defensive moves for each, and ducking. Then of course you can also move around the ring to a limited degree.


    So what’s wrong with the game? While the graphics look great, movement is slow and the control is relatively unresponsive. This makes it very hard to plan out attacks and defenses in any kind of remotely strategic manner so, like many poor fighting games, it devolves into a button mashing contest. Only die-hard ColecoVision or Rocky collector’s should seek this one out.


    If you do want to play this one the only way you can is on a ColecoVision system or via emulation. It hasn’t been re-released in any form that I am aware of. While there is no direct sequel, there was another game based on the Rocky movies released in 1987 for the Sega Master System that was simply titled Rocky. It was also a very flawed game but better than this one.





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  • Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Sega CD)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    mega-play-issue-15-april-may-1993-page-005

    Source: Mega Play – Issue Number 15 – April/May 1993

    Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a video game based on the movie of the same name that was released in 1992 (which in turn is based on the 1897 novel). The game was released in 1994 and came out on a large variety of systems. For the most part, they were all significantly different from each other. This ad highlights the Sega CD version of the game.

    All versions of the game (except the DOS version) were essentially action platform games but the level design, game play and graphics differ significantly. The Sega CD version was unique for its use of digitized backgrounds and full motion video cutscenes from the movie. The Sega CD version was only released in North America. The Amiga version did reuse some of the digitized graphics from the Sega CD version but there were more levels and they were significantly different.

    There were also regular Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, NES, Game Boy, Game Gear, Sega Master System and DOS versions of the game. The 8-bit versions were mostly the same with the Sega Master System and Game Gear versions having slightly better graphics than the NES version and all three obviously being better than the Game Boy version. The 16-bit SNES and Genesis versions were completely different from the 8-bit versions but similar to each other except for minor differences. The last version to come along was the DOS version. This one was unique because it was more like a first persons shooter instead of a platform action/adventure game.

    With all these different variations of the game you would think at least one of them would be decent. You would be wrong. This game suffers the same fate as the vast majority of movie licenses. It is mostly crap or at best sheer mediocrity. The 8-bit versions are the worst with the Game Boy being worst of the worst. The others are probably a toss-up and depend on personal preference. If you like digitized backgrounds and characters, choppy animation and grainy, blurry FMV then go for the Sega CD version. Minus most of the FMV then go for the Amiga. More standard but below par 16-bit graphics and animation then pick the Genesis or SNES versions. Prefer first person shooter type games? Then go for the DOS version. It doesn’t really matter though as you are sure to be disappointed no matter which one you choose. I thought the movie was decent enough though.

    The ad above is from the April/May 1993 issue of Mega Play and all screen shots are from the Sega CD version of the game.


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