I've had two goes at it over the years - first time I couldn't understand the fuss and stopped after a couple of levels, second time I got to the end and enjoyed it.  It's a clever game, plenty of variety, it just takes a few levels to settle in.  Will happily play that again.

Windjammers Review:
Incredibly simple Pong concept with amazing characterisation, fantastic graphics with an incredibly catchy soundtrack. I played the arcade version which has one set difficulty (which felt very hard) and limits each game to 30 seconds which resulted in quite a few tactical time outs. The Neogeo /psn version allows you to change these parameters to suit which I would have welcomed.

So the game plays like a Frisbee version of Pong but with souped up special moves. Two button control (throw and slide one button, toss assigned to the other) but a real nice depth to button timings which either allow you to special (two types tied to each character) throw straight back at speed, hold on to it to slow right down or apply curve. It took me about an hour to fully get to grips with the mechanics but after then I was hooked.

I did find myself continuing a lot so I reckon there is still a way for me to go (still not mastered the curve shot). I'd love to have played against a mate in 2p because this is where the game will reallt shine.

I had a scan online and noticed that there is still an active Windjammers tournament scene which is nice to see with some high level play. Appreciate that the recent PSN release may have peaked interest.

Anyhows for me it's an 8. I reckon playing with mates without the time restrictions and fixed difficulty setting would push this to a 9.

Watching that I can see how much Disc Jam (PS+ game from earlier this year) nicked from it. The range of moves is basically identical.

I really enjoyed Disc Jam for a while. Shame it didn't have a proper single player mode or I didn't have anyone to play local MP with. The online MP involved too much waiting around for matches.

JonB wrote:

Watching that I can see how much Disc Jam (PS+ game from earlier this year) nicked from it. The range of moves is basically identical.

I really enjoyed Disc Jam for a while. Shame ithi didn't have a proper single player mode or I didn't have anyone to play local MP with. The online MP involved too much waiting around for matches.

I read an article recently that basically outlined how Disc Jam was released by a group of Windjammers fans frustrated by the lack of progress with the WJ licence and decided they would make their own tribute. Wj then got its license and they then unfortunately got released at similar times or something like that.

I'll try and dig it out.

Yeah it's all about the 2p, we have it on a cabinet in the office and ran a little tourney a few years back to much success.

retroking1981 wrote:

Played some Windjammers. Agree with eric's review, seems like a great game and I'm sure in 2p it would be great. Moot you should have it on your Pi, it was on mine and yours is a carbon copy of mine afaik.

In the arcade bit?  Only got one Neo Geo game on there.

Thunder Force III (MD)

This is one that always seemed to garner a lot of respect back in the day as one of the champions of the genre and a bit of showcase for the Mega Drive.

After playing I can see why, there's visual effects aplenty with everything moving at a smooth and blistering pace. There's no trace of slowdown which plagued the top NES shooters that came before this, and even a lot of SNES ones after, including the inferior port.

The gameplay itself is solid, although I did find the difficulty a bit sporadic in places. I somehow managed to get through Stage 5 Ellis without dying once for example despite using several continues on the previous stage, I also managed to beat the last boss on my first go.

It also becomes very easy once you have the extra guns with the Homing Spheres weapon. I guess this could be said for most shooters as the trick then becomes trying to keep hold of your power, but you seem especially overpowered in this one.

Overall its a good game although not my favourite in the genre by any means. Worth checking out for MD and shoot 'em up enthusiasts alike though.

4/5

dynamiteReady wrote:

Might be the wrong place to ask, but anyone know how feasible model 3 emulation is these Dayton... I mean, days?

Model 2 as well:

Model 1, 2 and 3 were all noticeable jumps in tech, I remember gawking at plenty of games running on each board.

Have a look at this for an auction near me in a week or so......

sit down Star Wars, Battlezone, Outrun. There's a Vectrex and some retro handhelds going too. 

Auction includes film props , fancy cars - all sorts of stuff. Wonder who owned all this shit?

https://www.wilsonsauctions.com/auctions/government-auctions/AuctionEvent?saleCode=173580&location=Belfast&lotPageNo=10

Moot_Geeza wrote:

I'd kill for that Willy Wonka statue.

Given an earlier comment about where the goods came from, it's quite possible someone already has

My PSP has deleted my Pulseman save.  Sad trombone.  Will play stage 3 (it gives you a three stage option from the start) then watch a runthrough on Youtube but I was just about far enough in to not fancy starting again, good as it is.

Played level three this morning, it's a very good game.  I've played through it before, so I'm confident with awarding it a strong 90%.  It's not quite Rocket Knight Adventures, but it's bobbing around the lower end of 'one of the best 16-bit games of its type', and it's probably near the top of the list of prettiest/most impressive MD games.     

Nick, you're up.

No probs. Also, if anyone looks in here occasionally without the time or means to take part, feel free to chuck a suggestion in anyway and I'll put it on the list.

No probs mate, let me know when you want the reins.

Someone shout something out, if not I'll set one tomorrow morning.