Monster Lair (Virtual Console)
What Is It?
A couple weeks ago we were looking at <a href="/shows.php?id=twidg-38 " target="blank_"><b>The Dynastic Hero</b></a>, the TurboDuo version of Wonder Boy in Monster World. Well don't look now, because we're getting yet another Wonder Boy game for NEC's CD add-on. Monster Lair is Wonder Boy III, the same game that appeared on the Genesis. Monster Lair is a strange game; it combines traditional Wonder Boy platforming with these weird 2D shooter elements. This marriage isn't as seamless as one would like, but it doesn't detract from an otherwise enjoyable action game. Unfortunately Monster Lair feels like a downgrade after seeing some of the other Wonder Boy games on the Virtual Console, but fans of the series will no doubt find something to love.
Does It Still Hold Up?
The shooting elements are just weird and the platforming feels dated. That just about sums up my experience with Monster Lair. The graphics are fine and the music is pretty good, but the game doesn't feel as fresh as Wonder Boy in Monster World.
Is It Worth the Money?
Yet again we're given a solid game that is not worth the full $8. If this game was a few dollars cheaper it might be one thing, but it's hard to justify the full price for Monster Lair. Those who do pick it up will find a lot of things to like about this classic TurboGrafx-CD game, but I'm not sold on the idea that it's worth the full price. 2008 will surely bring all kinds of great Virtual Console games, perhaps you should just hold on to your money until then.
Tempest (Xbox Live Arcade)
What Is It?
Tempest is not only a classic 1981 coin-op, but it's also one of Atari's very best games. While much has been made about some of Atari's other offerings (including Asteroids, Missile Command, etc.), it's Tempest that everybody should be talking about. Tempest is not your basic shooter, it takes everything you know about the shooter genre and adds in some clever concepts that turn what could have been a stale experience into something amazing. You play a spaceship that is stuck on the edge of a long piece of geometry; it's your job to shoot all of the aliens that are slowly climbing their way towards you. Sound simple? Well it is, kind of. The game starts out basic enough (you will pretty much just have to spin around a large cone-shape level shooting everything in sight), but as the levels fly by the tension mounts and suddenly it's you who is in the defensive situation. Like all other Atari Xbox Live Arcade games, Tempest features both a "retro" and "evolved" version of the game. Does Tempest "evolved" live up to the fabulous Tempest 2000 on the Jaguar (or even Tempest X on the PlayStation)? Well, no. But it does give you a flawless version of the original game for $5.
Does It Still Hold Up?
Let's just get one thing out of the game. Tempest is still an amazing shooter than everybody should play at least once. Having said that, what were they thinking by not making the "evolved" version of this game Tempest 2000? They already have all of the work done for them (by Jeff Minter, no less), so why go off on your own and make something that doesn't quite stack up? It's not that the "evolved" version of the game isn't good; it's a perfectly acceptable shooter that looks and sounds fine. But Tempest 2000 added more than just new graphics, it offered new power-ups, a trippy new art style, bonus levels, better level designs and jumping. None of that is here; instead we have a half-assed HD remake of the original game. Thankfully the original game holds up well, but Atari made a HUGE mistake by not throwing in Tempest 2000 into the mix.
Is It Worth the Money?
Fans of the original 1981 arcade game will be happy to see that Atari has released a faithful port of one of the best shooters of all time. However, $5 seems a bit steep for a game you can play for free online. What you're really paying for is the "evolved" update, which looks and sounds a little better, but is not as cool as it could have been. Tempest 2000 is just another game that suggests that we need Atari Jaguar games ported to the Xbox Live Arcade or Virtual Console.
This Week in GameTap
Every week I plan on taking a look at the classic games being uploaded on the
GameTap service. Regardless of whether it's part of their free or premium service,
GameTap offers a wide variety of old school games that is worth checking out. Here are the most recent games uploaded to their server, keep in mind that all of these games are free to play unless otherwise stated:
Street Fighter III: Third Strike (Dreamcast/Subscription Required) - It took Capcom six years to release Street Fighter III, one of the most anticipated fighting games of all time. Unfortunately Street Fighter III was released at a time when everybody was playing first-person shooters and nobody cared about the arcade scene. It wasn't until years later that Street Fighter III was recognized for what it is, one of the best fighting games of all time. This week GameTap is adding Street Fighter III: Third Strike to their ever-growing list of arcade games. This won't make the release of Street Fighter IV come any quicker, but it will give you something to do while you wait. Street Fighter III is definitely worth checking out.
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