Support NeoGAF

[Stevey]

Check out these games:
1943
Ano Gaia
Bedlam
Dragon Spirit
Flying Shark
Gemini Wing
Hades Nebula
I.C.U.P.S
License To Kill
Star Pilot
Star Trip
SWIV
Terra Cresta
Typhoon
Xecutor
Xenon

Magazine covertape gives me a few other things to go for. My gut feeling now is that it might have been Zarjas.

Zub was a platforming game that was a reasonable success, and had a hidden shmup named 'LightFarce' in it accessed by a cheat code. Then, later, the developers made Lightfarce standalone, renamed it Zarjas, and gave it to Sinclair User to put on the covertape.

If it's not that - did you purchase all three magazines (Crash, SU, Your Sinclair) on a regular basis? Narrowing it down based on the magazine is probably viable if you didn't.



Is there a weirder hybrid than shmup-pinball?

Not Zarjas, checked all the others on youtube, cant find any images or videos of Star Trip.

It was black and white like literally just black and white, no other colour at all, pretty sure there was no background, cant remember what magazine it came with, if it even did.

You controlled a spaceship, not a helicopter or anything else. The music played while you were playing the game, not just on the title screen.

Forget all that, it was Star Trip, instantly recognized the music.

Thanks a lot for your help guys, it's been like 20+ years since I've seen it.

 

[sn0man]

I've tried getting an answer for this one on a couple of different forums but I've never gotten an answer.

A point-and-click noir detective adventure game with static environments. You start out sitting by your desk looking at a newspaper for clues. You maybe needed to take out a magnifying glass from your inventory to read the newspaper or maybe that was just what the mouse icon looked like. Once you've found the clue you go to a bar or something of that ilk.

When I've asked about this in the past I get a lot of answers that are not from a first-person perspective but I distinctly remember it being a first person game.

I hate to suggest because you have probably heard of it based on your post but have you looked up “Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective” for the 4th gen cd add-ons (e.g., Sega CD).

 

[ichtyander]

Not Zarjas, checked all the others on youtube, cant find any images or videos of Star Trip.

It was black and white like literally just black and white, no other colour at all, pretty sure there was no background, cant remember what magazine it came with, if it even did.

You controlled a spaceship, not a helicopter or anything else. The music played while you were playing the game, not just on the title screen.

Forget all that, it was Star Trip, instantly recognized the music.

Thanks a lot for your help guys, it's been like 20+ years since I've seen it.

Apparently, this game was freely distributed with Sinclair User #126. Found a review on retrogamer.net mentioning this detail:

When I was 12, I remember the day going into John Menzies and buying issue 126 of Sinclair User and feeling excited in seeing the 'Great Eight' covertape with eight great games presumably. I got home and shoved in Side A of the covertape into my 128K +2 Speccy Tape Deck qucker than a squiffy ferret. From what I saw so far of the games on Side A, I was not too impressed. I tried Side B, so far, still not impressed. But that was until I discovered the last game on the tape, which was Star Trip.

Star Trip is a 1992 complete shoot 'em up game specially made by Thundersoft for Sinclair User to be given away 'free' on their covertape. On first impressions it is a basic looking and simple to play game.

Btw, that song has pretty clear italo disco influences, so much that one segment is taken straight out of Koto - Dragon's Legend, so you might like that one as well (coincidentally, a song I've been trying to track down for years and only found it a couple of years ago).

EDIT:
Here's a link for the covertape (there's even a scanned inlay in there).

 

[dose]

PS1 era game I believe, never played it myself but watched footage on youtube..I believe it was set in Britain and you played as kids who all had English accents. Remember there being some sort of evil monster boss fight in a courtyard like area. I think one of the kids weapon was a bow and arrow, I feel like clocks may have been some sort of theme.

Sorry that it's pretty vague, any ideas? It's bugged me for years.

One of the Clock Tower games? (3?)

 

[Stevey]

Apparently, this game was freely distributed with Sinclair User #126. Found a review on retrogamer.net mentioning this detail:




Btw, that song has pretty clear italo disco influences, so much that one segment is taken straight out of Koto - Dragon's Legend, so you might like that one as well (coincidentally, a song I've been trying to track down for years and only found it a couple of years ago).

EDIT:
Here's a link for the covertape (there's even a scanned inlay in there).

Cool, thanks for the info.

Jesus, I remember this-

 

[mcarlie]

I hate to suggest because you have probably heard of it based on your post but have you looked up “Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective” for the 4th gen cd add-ons (e.g., Sega CD).

It was more 1940s noir than anything Sherlock Holmes related. It was also very likely a PC game.

 

[Newman96]

One of the Clock Tower games? (3?)

That doesn't appear to be it either, seems too horror based.

Going to try and do some more digging to see if I can find what it was.

 

[whitemex88]

PS1 era game I believe, never played it myself but watched footage on youtube..I believe it was set in Britain and you played as kids who all had English accents. Remember there being some sort of evil monster boss fight in a courtyard like area. I think one of the kids weapon was a bow and arrow, I feel like clocks may have been some sort of theme.

Sorry that it's pretty vague, any ideas? It's bugged me for years.

Going to take a stab and guess

The City of Lost Children?

 

[A Black Falcon]

I've tried getting an answer for this one on a couple of different forums but I've never gotten an answer.

A point-and-click noir detective adventure game with static environments. You start out sitting by your desk looking at a newspaper for clues. You maybe needed to take out a magnifying glass from your inventory to read the newspaper or maybe that was just what the mouse icon looked like. Once you've found the clue you go to a bar or something of that ilk.

When I've asked about this in the past I get a lot of answers that are not from a first-person perspective but I distinctly remember it being a first person game.

Crime City? http://www.mobygames.com/game/crime-city

 

[Bookman]

I began to think about a game that I had on pc long ago. I perceived it as a Zelda like game, It was in third person and you had a sword anyway. The main character was a hot Girl. Probebly with big ....well I think the character was laura croft inspired.

The game got a sequel to PS2 that I never played, I think it was a pretty early games for Ps2. I do not remember much other than the fantasy setting and I think it was related to dragon in some way.

A bit vague I know :/

 

[Morrigan Stark]

Bloodrayne? Don't know if it had dragons though, I think it was more urban fantasy.

 

[DTJAAAAM]

I began to think about a game that I had on pc long ago. I perceived it as a Zelda like game, It was in third person and you had a sword anyway. The main character was a hot Girl. Probebly with big ....well I think the character was laura croft inspired.

The game got a sequel to PS2 that I never played, I think it was a pretty early games for Ps2. I do not remember much other than the fantasy setting and I think it was related to dragon in some way.

A bit vague I know :/

Drakan: Order of the Flame?

 

[Lord of Castamere]

Dreamcast RPG Dungeon Crawler I believe. I remember a broken floating Island hub world that had more sections added as you progressed through the the story. You could capture monsters, and fight with them.

 

[sangreal]

Crime City? http://www.mobygames.com/game/crime-city

I don't know if that is the game he is looking for but it sounds awesome

 

[_Clash_]

I do have a game I remember, but not the name. So here goes. A penny for all your thoughts.

I believe the game was Windows 3.1 compatible.

I played in the early to mid 90s and I believe I played it on a shareware or a freeware floppy which was popular at the time.

What I remember of the gameplay- I beleive it was a tile based adventure/ fantasy game set in a castle/ indoor environment with what I reckon was a male/ fantasy protagonist that reminded me of ALF at the time for some reason (memory is hazy).I remember tile rooms with puzzles perhaps similar in presentation to a lucas arts game with an isometric camera. You walked around and tried to progress

I feel the game had a fantasy setting and the protagonist reminded me of ALF. And I also remember it being a tad convoluted and hard.

You could pick up apples and stuff.

Thanks for bearing with me.

 

[jimboton]

I do have a game I remember, but not the name. So here goes. A penny for all your thoughts.

I believe the game was Windows 3.1 compatible.

I played in the early to mid 90s and I believe I played it on a shareware or a freeware floppy which was popular at the time.

What I remember of the gameplay- I beleive it was a tile based adventure/ fantasy game set in a castle/ indoor environment with what I reckon was a male/ fantasy protagonist that reminded me of ALF at the time for some reason (memory is hazy).I remember tile rooms with puzzles perhaps similar in presentation to a lucas arts game with an isometric camera. You walked around and tried to progress

I feel the game had a fantasy setting and the protagonist reminded me of ALF. And I also remember it being a tad convoluted and hard.

You could pick up apples and stuff.

Thanks for bearing with me.

Mystic Towers?

 

[Bookman]

Drakan: Order of the Flame?

YES!

Thanks did not recognize it by name, but it's definitely it. Much more dragons than I initially remember but clearly the right game. Thanks!

 

[_Clash_]

Mystic Towers?

OMG it totally was.

Thanking you sir.

 

[_Clash_]

Consider me chuffed.

 

[Alex Connolly]

I've tried getting an answer for this one on a couple of different forums but I've never gotten an answer.

A point-and-click noir detective adventure game with static environments. You start out sitting by your desk looking at a newspaper for clues. You maybe needed to take out a magnifying glass from your inventory to read the newspaper or maybe that was just what the mouse icon looked like. Once you've found the clue you go to a bar or something of that ilk.

When I've asked about this in the past I get a lot of answers that are not from a first-person perspective but I distinctly remember it being a first person game.

Could be Evidence: The Last Report.

 

[crowphoenix]

Dreamcast RPG Dungeon Crawler I believe. I remember a broken floating Island hub world that had more sections added as you progressed through the the story. You could capture monsters, and fight with them.

Sounds like Time Stalker.

PS1 era game I believe, never played it myself but watched footage on youtube..I believe it was set in Britain and you played as kids who all had English accents. Remember there being some sort of evil monster boss fight in a courtyard like area. I think one of the kids weapon was a bow and arrow, I feel like clocks may have been some sort of theme.

Sorry that it's pretty vague, any ideas? It's bugged me for years.

Do you remember any other details? Gameplay style? Graphical quirks?

It is making me think of Koudelka, but that isn't a perfect match?

 

[Silphonica]

Trying this again. Seems noone remembers this game.

I early to mid 90s PC game. It's an isometric view 4 player garden battle game, i only had the demo and was about 6 years old so I don't remember the name. Each player takes a turn, they draw a card and can do stuff like improve your garden, defend your garden or attack another players garden.... i think. I can't really remember, but I think thats as close as it will get.

 

[Siege.exe]

It was a Dreamcast game, and it may have been on a demo disk, but I'm not entirely sure. I vaguely remember playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater and after a series of other games, eventually ended up on this top-down 2D magic based shooter where different weapon types were laid across the map. It was tile based, and I'm pretty sure the enemies came in waves with the occasional boss. Probably too crappy of a description to get any results, but I remember really enjoying that game and I'd like to see if it holds up.

 

[RobRSG]

It was a Dreamcast game, and it may have been on a demo disk, but I'm not entirely sure. I vaguely remember playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater and after a series of other games, eventually ended up on this top-down 2D magic based shooter where different weapon types were laid across the map. It was tile based, and I'm pretty sure the enemies came in waves with the occasional boss. Probably too crappy of a description to get any results, but I remember really enjoying that game and I'd like to see if it holds up.

Isn't it Cannon Spike?

 

[PooBone]

An NES game, first person dungeon crawler. There was a window on the left for the gameplay, usually looking at a wall or a door. The bottom and right side of the screen were filled with text, starts, inventory, or something like that. I wanna say there was a black background and I could swear I remember a floating eyeball monster. For the longest time I thought this game was called "8 Eyes" but after recently seeing that game I realized I was way off.

 

[Niahak]

An NES game, first person dungeon crawler. There was a window on the left for the gameplay, usually looking at a wall or a door. The bottom and right side of the screen were filled with text, starts, inventory, or something like that. I wanna say there was a black background and I could swear I remember a floating eyeball monster. For the longest time I thought this game was called "8 Eyes" but after recently seeing that game I realized I was way off.

Not all that knowledgable about NES dungeon crawlers, but is the layout similar to Shadowgate?

Were there full on RPG elements or was it more of an adventure game?

 

[mclem]

An NES game, first person dungeon crawler. There was a window on the left for the gameplay, usually looking at a wall or a door. The bottom and right side of the screen were filled with text, starts, inventory, or something like that. I wanna say there was a black background and I could swear I remember a floating eyeball monster. For the longest time I thought this game was called "8 Eyes" but after recently seeing that game I realized I was way off.

Swords and Serpents, maybe?

Just trying to find a monster list.

 

[Alex Connolly]

Trying this again. Seems noone remembers this game.

I early to mid 90s PC game. It's an isometric view 4 player garden battle game, i only had the demo and was about 6 years old so I don't remember the name. Each player takes a turn, they draw a card and can do stuff like improve your garden, defend your garden or attack another players garden.... i think. I can't really remember, but I think thats as close as it will get.

Sounds like Green Thumb.

 

[Sinatar]

Swords and Serpents, maybe?

Just trying to find a monster list.

If not that, then perhaps one of the Wizardry ports or the Bard's Tale.

I think Might & Magic 1 was on the NES as well.

 

[Silphonica]

Sounds like Green Thumb.

Goddamn, it does look like it but my memory of it must have been skewed because it looks different, it probably is it tbf this is the first time someone has given me a suggestion after years of searching so thanks.

i had the demo and only got to play for 30 mins, it was amazing to my 6 y/o self.

 

[galvatron]

It was a Dreamcast game, and it may have been on a demo disk, but I'm not entirely sure. I vaguely remember playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater and after a series of other games, eventually ended up on this top-down 2D magic based shooter where different weapon types were laid across the map. It was tile based, and I'm pretty sure the enemies came in waves with the occasional boss. Probably too crappy of a description to get any results, but I remember really enjoying that game and I'd like to see if it holds up.

Gauntlet Legends?

 

[aygomyownroad]

I remember playing a game on PC around the time of Doom 2.

It was by the same team maybe it was Doom but medieval type setting. You had crossbows etc. .also anyone know where I could get the game to replay been so many years!

 

[PalaceBrother]

I remember playing a game on PC around the time of Doom 2.

It was by the same team maybe it was Doom but medieval type setting. You had crossbows etc. .also anyone know where I could get the game to replay been so many years!

Heretic?

 

[ichtyander]

I remember playing a game on PC around the time of Doom 2.

It was by the same team maybe it was Doom but medieval type setting. You had crossbows etc. .also anyone know where I could get the game to replay been so many years!

Try Hexen, Heretic, Witchaven, Strife.

 

[Lord of Castamere]

Sounds like Time Stalker.

Yep. Game looks shittier than I remember /: I regret this.

 

[crowphoenix]

Yep. Game looks shittier than I remember /: I regret this.

I played it a lot. It is fun, and it has Nigel from Landstalker as a playable character.

 

[Iph]

A game for the Genesis that felt like a cross between a platformer and space exploration shooter. Small, grey spaceship, zoom around and shoot at stuff, whilst exploring. Have never been able to figure out the name of it since what I remember about it is pretty generic.

It had pretty ambient/eerie music. I got nothing.

 

[Pestilence11]

A game for the Genesis that felt like a cross between a platformer and space exploration shooter. Small, grey spaceship, zoom around and shoot at stuff, whilst exploring. Have never been able to figure out the name of it since what I remember about it is pretty generic.

It had pretty ambient/eerie music. I got nothing.

Starflight fits for the small ship, shooting stuff, exploration and kind of eerie music but there's no platforming.

 

[Iph]

It had more stylized graphics and wasn't a shoot 'em up, side scrolling style. You'd putter around in a platformer-like environment. This one has been at the back of my mind and I've yet to figure it out.

 

[The Incredible Muffin]

This is one of my all time favorites. And I only had the demo!

Its is a PSX game where you fly around in a futuristic F-16 kind of plane where you save the world from an Alien invasion.

The unique thing about it was that you flew along an actual sphere, representing earth (in the demo, I do believe you would go outerspace in the full game). So kind of like Mario Galaxy, you could fly circles across the world.

In the demo you could just shoot alien ships, but also prevent them from abducting cows and people. I believe you could also beam up people and drop them off to a save zone.

I played this demo incredibly much when I was a kid.

Anyone know what game I am talking about?

 

[BluePigGanon]

It had more stylized graphics and wasn't a shoot 'em up, side scrolling style. You'd putter around in a platformer-like environment. This one has been at the back of my mind and I've yet to figure it out.

Sub Terrania, maybe?

http://youtu.be/GSIUSJCQFNM

 

[Iph]

Starflight fits for the small ship, shooting stuff, exploration and kind of eerie music but there's no platforming.

Sub Terrania! I finally found it. My 20 year search is complete! <3

Edit: Beaten. That beginning... memories.

 

[biosnake20]

All I remember was going up and down a mountain in a mine cart. sidescroller probably on genesis

 

[revolverjgw]

This is one of my all time favorites. And I only had the demo!

Its is a PSX game where you fly around in a futuristic F-16 kind of plane where you save the world from an Alien invasion.

The unique thing about it was that you flew along an actual sphere, representing earth (in the demo, I do believe you would go outerspace in the full game). So kind of like Mario Galaxy, you could fly circles across the world.

In the demo you could just shoot alien ships, but also prevent them from abducting cows and people. I believe you could also beam up people and drop them off to a save zone.

I played this demo incredibly much when I was a kid.

Anyone know what game I am talking about?

My first thought is Invasion from Beyond. It had some cow participation.

 

[DTJAAAAM]

All I remember was going up and down a mountain in a mine cart. sidescroller probably on genesis

Marvel Land or Quackshot?

 

[FlashFlooder]

This is such a cool thread

I've got one that bugs me periodically:

Mid-90's bargain bin PC game. I want to say the title was "Metropolis" but it wasn't. Gameplay was akin to Sierra's point&click adventure games of the era. Semi-futuristic city setting, and you're trying to solve some kind of mystery (maybe).

Only specific part I remember is trying to infiltrate an office building and there was a security system and (maybe) security robots.

 

[mclem]

Mid-90's bargain bin PC game. I want to say the title was "Metropolis" but it wasn't. Gameplay was akin to Sierra's point&click adventure games of the era. Semi-futuristic city setting, and you're trying to solve some kind of mystery (maybe).

Only specific part I remember is trying to infiltrate an office building and there was a security system and (maybe) security robots.

Beneath A Steel Sky's probably closest to what you describe, but there's quite a few things that are somewhat similar.

 

[PooBone]

If not that, then perhaps one of the Wizardry ports or the Bard's Tale.

I think Might & Magic 1 was on the NES as well.

I looked and it was very similar to Might and Magic 1, the biggest difference is when there's combat the character sprite showed up in the environment in the little window. But the movement and black windows with white borderes and everything looks very similar.

 

[Correctomundo]

I looked and it was very similar to Might and Magic 1, the biggest difference is when there's combat the character sprite showed up in the environment in the little window. But the movement and black windows with white borderes and everything looks very similar.

That sounds so much like Wizardry. There were two on the NES. You're sure that it isn't not one of them?

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord

Wizardry 2: Knight of Diamonds

There was a third NES game, but I don't think it was released in NA.

 

[Spukc]

basically the game is like worms but you are on planets and each planet has its own gravity.

the screen was space (duh) and a bunch of planets filled it and you and other players would try to launch weapons at each other.

you can customize your weapons endlessly! like make a giant cluster nuke etc.
i used to play that game allot.

i can't remember which game it was ugh