Retro games and emulation - Discuss retro shit in case you're stuck in the past or a hipster

[555777555]

Sometimes I wonder what are truly are good retro games if you don't have familiarity with them. I'm not sure if my lukewarm opinion on PlayStation games is because it just wasn't a console I grew up (Nintendo + computers for me) or if the console's games have aged really poorly. Case in point, they started making Atari game compilations back in the late 1990s (Activision did it for their own games) but they just don't hold a lot of appeal of people outside of that generation. Some games sucked less, but none of them are things you'd fool around with for more than five minutes.

Try DOS games.

 

[Finder of Games]

Primarily PSX and Sega Saturn at the moment, but something for the SNES would be nice too. You have to do some weird fuckery with PCSX2 and I have an actual PS2 anyway so I'll just stick to just playing the games regularly on there.

I play a good amount of 2D Saturn and PSX games so something to help with blending would work wonders. Could you get crt-royale-ntsc-svideo on Duckstation? That sounds exactly like what I would need.

So, no. Most big shadersets are designed for retroarch/libretro cause they get to attach it to everything all at once. Retroarch sucks for modern stuff but I'll be a fag and just say I really don't think for 99.9999% of cases, you get anything from playing gen 5 and earlier on standalone, anymore. THAT SAID, I'm not here to give a shit about where you play. So, I'd recommend CRT-Guest-NTSC. Install as it mentions on the github page. On duckstation, I think there's a way in the settings menu to inflict across all titles, but it's been a hot minute so per-game, you:

1. Right click game on game menu
2. click properties in the submenu
3. In the new window that pops up, choose "Postprocessing"
4. Enable postprocessing for that title
5. add one of the included shadersets (pgxp is probably the one most people know about, it really really heavily reduces the texture wobble of PS1, though that's more 3D games so you might not care) or an added one (crt-guest-ntsc in this case)
6. adjust settings to your liking
7. ???
8. profit

For saturn I cannot fathom you're using bizhawk or mednafen, and I don't think the others have shader support on their standalones, so retroarch is it.
If you're on snes and want shaders I think bsnes and snes9x have cg support and some other support, but again, retroarch just takes a fat shit on them all. This is a fantastic set for gen 5 and earlier, specializing in lots of low-res titles (things get a little silly if you up the internal render res, though again, 2D, you probably don't, it's worth warning).

 

[Xarpho's Return]

Try DOS games.

Really mixed bag depending on the era. Mac games from that time (pre-1994) are arguably better but the emulator is a pain to set up; though work is underway on a full release of a program called MACE which does the same thing as DOSBox but for older Mac games.

 

[Baraka Obama]

Sometimes I wonder what are truly are good retro games if you don't have familiarity with them. I'm not sure if my lukewarm opinion on PlayStation games is because it just wasn't a console I grew up (Nintendo + computers for me) or if the console's games have aged really poorly. Case in point, they started making Atari game compilations back in the late 1990s (Activision did it for their own games) but they just don't hold a lot of appeal of people outside of that generation. Some games sucked less, but none of them are things you'd fool around with for more than five minutes.

Some of my favourite experiences are finding an older game I never played as a kid and just falling in love with it.

For example the Ace Combat games are all excellent even on PS1.

If you want something completely from left field you've never played to test that out try playing Looney Tunes Sheep Raider. It's a really well made puzzle stealth game which is surprising since Infogrames&Licensed just screams shovelware.

 

[Gingervitis]

Speaking of typing, The Typing of the Dead is a game so dear and close to my heart. It's fun, doesn't take itself very seriously and expects that you improve your skill at typing.

View attachment 6861568

How is Typing of the Dead Overkill btw?

 

[HexFag]

Sometimes I wonder what are truly are good retro games if you don't have familiarity with them. I'm not sure if my lukewarm opinion on PlayStation games is because it just wasn't a console I grew up (Nintendo + computers for me) or if the console's games have aged really poorly. Case in point, they started making Atari game compilations back in the late 1990s (Activision did it for their own games) but they just don't hold a lot of appeal of people outside of that generation. Some games sucked less, but none of them are things you'd fool around with for more than five minutes.

If you're a fan of JRPGs and schmups the 5th gen/late 1990s is a literal gold mine of high quality releases. Besides Square Enix at it's peak, you get Game Arts at its peak with pure kino such as Grandia as well as ATLUS trying whatever the fuck might stick with Thousand Arms and the recently translated Princess Crown. Speaking of fan translations/localizations, Linda Cubed got translated last year and its fantastic and definitely something that you can't really get out of modern gaming nowadays. People are finally starting to crack and translate the long JP dominant Sega Saturn Library too so that's always nice to look forward to. I'm sure other genres of video game have aged worse, but in terms of being a JRPG fan, you're always going to be in a good spot if you aim for the late 1990s to the mid 2000s.

So, no. Most big shadersets are designed for retroarch/libretro cause they get to attach it to everything all at once. Retroarch sucks for modern stuff but I'll be a fag and just say I really don't think for 99.9999% of cases, you get anything from playing gen 5 and earlier on standalone, anymore. THAT SAID, I'm not here to give a shit about where you play. So, I'd recommend CRT-Guest-NTSC. Install as it mentions on the github page. On duckstation, I think there's a way in the settings menu to inflict across all titles, but it's been a hot minute so per-game, you:

1. Right click game on game menu
2. click properties in the submenu
3. In the new window that pops up, choose "Postprocessing"
4. Enable postprocessing for that title
5. add one of the included shadersets (pgxp is probably the one most people know about, it really really heavily reduces the texture wobble of PS1, though that's more 3D games so you might not care) or an added one (crt-guest-ntsc in this case)
6. adjust settings to your liking
7. ???
8. profit

For saturn I cannot fathom you're using bizhawk or mednafen, and I don't think the others have shader support on their standalones, so retroarch is it.
If you're on snes and want shaders I think bsnes and snes9x have cg support and some other support, but again, retroarch just takes a fat shit on them all. This is a fantastic set for gen 5 and earlier, specializing in lots of low-res titles (things get a little silly if you up the internal render res, though again, 2D, you probably don't, it's worth warning).

Also thank you very much! It really sucks that Duckstation has such limited shader support when compared to Retroarch but then again that's really the only thing Retroarch has over 90% of standalone emulators (minus retroachievements though most emulators have that now).

 

[Xarpho's Return]

Some of my favourite experiences are finding an older game I never played as a kid and just falling in love with it.

For example the Ace Combat games are all excellent even on PS1.

If you want something completely from left field you've never played to test that out try playing Looney Tunes Sheep Raider. It's a really well made puzzle stealth game which is surprising since Infogrames&Licensed just screams shovelware.

I know everything is so homogenized today, but for games prior to say, 2000, each system was basically its own experience, even within a generation.

Most of the SNES games that I love I've never seen a physical copy of. Sure, I may have had my cousins/siblings to thank for when it came to Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars or The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past but nobody told me about the other JRPGs on the SNES that I enjoyed (Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI, even EarthBound)...or even other games like E.V.O.: The Search for Eden or shitty games that I played through anyway like Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures. It felt familiar because I was familiar with the SNES. NES and GameCube, same thing.

In comparison, the PlayStation is largely uncharted territory. Not only do I not have old magazines to refer to (Nintendo Power wasn't covering them), I have to refer to word of mouth...and because they're so enormous in size (the entire SNES library is 2GB tops including Japanese and European releases, whereas the PS1 library is 500GB + for the American releases alone) you have to be choosier about it.

My suspicion that most of the PlayStation library has aged poorly is supported by the abysmal sales of the PlayStation Classic. Sure, there were several missing games that were iconic to the era and missing anyway but for a wildly successful console the first time around, that shouldn't have mattered too much. Super NES Classic Edition caught some flack for missing a few titles (no Chrono Trigger, Harvest Moon, Tetris Attack...) but it sold like hotcakes anyway.

 

[SSj_Ness (Yiffed)]

Speaking of typing, The Typing of the Dead is a game so dear and close to my heart. It's fun, doesn't take itself very seriously and expects that you improve your skill at typing.

View attachment 6861568

That always seemed fun as hell to me. If I get a regular computer again I'll try it out.

Sometimes I wonder what are truly are good retro games if you don't have familiarity with them. I'm not sure if my lukewarm opinion on PlayStation games is because it just wasn't a console I grew up (Nintendo + computers for me) or if the console's games have aged really poorly. Case in point, they started making Atari game compilations back in the late 1990s (Activision did it for their own games) but they just don't hold a lot of appeal of people outside of that generation. Some games sucked less, but none of them are things you'd fool around with for more than five minutes.

Graphics aside (which I like), PS1 generation holds up incredibly well. Emulators supposedly can improve visuals and reduce load times, plus you can configure the controls and use save states that way, virtually eliminating the annoyances of the time that could reasonably turn players off on real hardware.

If somebody can't enjoy the best the PS1 has to offer that way then I really don't think they even like video games, at least not the genres it offers. Ape Escape is one of the best, most creative 3D platformers, Final Fantasy 7 & 9 (and 8 imo) speak for themselves, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night might be an overrated Metroidvania but still shits all over much of the indie slop retards suck off nonstop.

My suspicion that most of the PlayStation library has aged poorly is supported by the abysmal sales of the PlayStation Classic.

It was overpriced, had a shit selection of games, had technical issues, and I think it released without a DualShock controller. That's a pretty retarded way to judge a library of games.

 

[Xarpho's Return]

If somebody can't enjoy the best the PS1 has to offer that way then I really don't think they even like video games

I have considered that possibility, yes.

 

[Haftag]

I remember when i saw that at EB games when it was new. Passed on it because it requires a mic. Would love to play it if you can emulate without a mic

AFAIK you can't.

How the fuck would you play a VOICE-CONTROLLED game without a mic, Einstein?

It's possible if the game itself offers alternatives (Endgame or gamecube Mario Partys) or if it's simple enough (noises as @Xarpho's Return said) that it can be replaced with either a button press or sample audio (like ds emulators do).

 

[Baraka Obama]

In comparison, the PlayStation is largely uncharted territory. Not only do I not have old magazines to refer to (Nintendo Power wasn't covering them), I have to refer to word of mouth...and because they're so enormous in size (the entire SNES library is 2GB tops including Japanese and European releases, whereas the PS1 library is 500GB + for the American releases alone) you have to be choosier about it.

My suspicion that most of the PlayStation library has aged poorly is supported by the abysmal sales of the PlayStation Classic. Sure, there were several missing games that were iconic to the era and missing anyway but for a wildly successful console the first time around, that shouldn't have mattered too much. Super NES Classic Edition caught some flack for missing a few titles (no Chrono Trigger, Harvest Moon, Tetris Attack...) but it sold like hotcakes anyway.

Sony has less brand power but also for those in the know the PlayStation Classic had something like half the games being eurotrash versions running at 25fps.

It did not include the analog controller and did not include the many classic JRPGs the PS1 is famous for.

Not worth judging the GOAT console based on that half baked poor effort on California-based SIE's part.

For what to play you could stick to just JRPGs and have a great time with PS1. Mind you there's plenty of other really great games, but keep it simple, Play the 10 most well known JRPGs like you would on SNES say FF7-9 & Tactics, Grandia, SaGa Frontier, Xenogears, Legend of Dragoon, Chrono Chross, and Star Ocean 2 -- that would occupy you for a several months at least -- and decide if it's worth continuing.

 

[Calandrino]

most of the PlayStation library has aged poorly

tbh, with not very many exceptions, I don't much enjoy the whole 5th generation of consoles, even stuff I used to really like. If I go back to that era it's usually arcade or PC games. Or something that got remastered.

But Silent Hill is still fine to me, tank controls and all.

Some of my favourite experiences are finding an older game I never played as a kid and just falling in love with it.

I don't really play anything out of nostalgia, but the well of cool games that I haven't played (or haven't played enough) never ends.

 

[Grub]

Sometimes I wonder what are truly are good retro games if you don't have familiarity with them. I'm not sure if my lukewarm opinion on PlayStation games is because it just wasn't a console I grew up (Nintendo + computers for me) or if the console's games have aged really poorly.

I'm like you when it comes to the PlayStation. I never had one growing up, though I did emulate a few games to varying degrees of success, mostly jrpgs where the shitty frame rates weren't such a big deal, and I don't really find many of the games appealing to go back and check out. I think the visual style of the PlayStation is part of it as well as the lack of a joystick for a lot of its 3d library.

When you see a PlayStation game, you can tell it's a PlayStation game. PC and N64 games had a different look to them. The PlayStation really leaned heavily into the prerendered background thing and its hardware limitations gave games a certain look. The PlayStation also went about its 3d controls in a way that is unique to that specific console and time period. That tank control shit was very much a PlayStation thing I don't really remember many n64 games having and it's a pretty shitty control method you're going to have to deal with going back into the playstation library.

Case in point, they started making Atari game compilations back in the late 1990s (Activision did it for their own games) but they just don't hold a lot of appeal of people outside of that generation. Some games sucked less, but none of them are things you'd fool around with for more than five minutes.

That's because Atari games are generally small and simple games with annoying sound effects. Even people from that generation don't tend to get nostalgic about it. My dad had an Atari and a vic20, he only had the Atari still by the time I was born, and generally likes video games. He mostly gets nostalgic about the ones we had when I was a kid though. Although, when I was younger he did talk about the Vic-20 a lot more.

He also just irrationally hates all video game sound effects specifically because of the Atari. Whenever my dad would hook up the Atari for us to play he'd bitch and grumble about it and then we'd pretty much spend like ten minutes playing all the games he had then just fuck around with the basic interpreter making it run loops and shit until we got bored and went back to playing the nes or the snes.

 

[Baraka Obama]

Tank control is the best control.

 

[Xarpho's Return]

tbh, with not very many exceptions, I don't much enjoy the whole 5th generation of consoles, even stuff I used to really like. If I go back to that era it's usually arcade or PC games. Or something that got remastered.

I get it. It happens with the Nintendo 64 too. It's often held up as some great console but outside of an extremely narrow group of games the game quality really drops off. Once you play the Zelda games, Mario 64, and a few Rareware titles you've already played about 60% of what the N64 has to offer. Even accounting for different tastes among its B-listers (there are those, for instance, who see Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon an overlooked title) there just isn't that much out there.

One thing about the PlayStation is that it was in that era (1993-1997, roughly) where games were trying to be multimedia spectacles with extensive FMV use and spanned multiple discs, and that spread over to PlayStation as well. As a result the games that didn't do this (as described above) are much more fun and haven't aged as badly as the others.

edit: to clarify, Crash Bandicoot, MGS, etc. (previous post)

 

[LifeAlert]

Once you play the Zelda games, Mario 64, and a few Rareware titles you've already played about 60% of what the N64 has to offer.

While the N64 library isn't as vast as the PS1's, I think attributing 60% of its good games to just a handful of titles is a little harsh:

Spoiler: other good n64 games

-1080 Snowboarding
-Wave Race 64
-Sin & Punishment
-F-Zero X
-Kirby 64
-Pokemon Snap
-Pokemon Puzzle League
-Ogre Battle 64
-Chameleon Twist
-Mischief Makers
-Space Station Silicon Valley
-Turok quadrilogy
-Star Wars Rogue Squadron and Shadows of the Empire
-Doom 64
-Ridge Racer 64
-Beetle Adventure Racing
-007: The World Is Not Enough
-WWF No Mercy

 

[SSj_Ness (Yiffed)]

While the N64 library isn't as vast as the PS1's, I think attributing 60% of its good games to just a handful of titles is a little harsh:

Spoiler: other good n64 games

-1080 Snowboarding
-Wave Race 64
-Sin & Punishment
-F-Zero X
-Kirby 64
-Pokemon Snap
-Pokemon Puzzle League
-Ogre Battle 64
-Chameleon Twist
-Mischief Makers
-Space Station Silicon Valley
-Turok quadrilogy
-Star Wars Rogue Squadron and Shadows of the Empire
-Doom 64
-Ridge Racer 64
-Beetle Adventure Racing
-007: The World Is Not Enough
-WWF No Mercy

Aside from Nintendo & Rare, plus those games, add in the Bomberman ones, Quest 64, and maybe Clayfighter/Fighter's Destiny games if you like messing around with older fighting games. Pretty slim pickings after that though, unless you like sports/racing or something.

 

[PB & Banana Sandwich]

Aside from Nintendo & Rare, plus those games, add in the Bomberman ones, Quest 64, and maybe Clayfighter/Fighter's Destiny games if you like messing around with older fighting games. Pretty slim pickings after that though, unless you like sports/racing or something.

There's also Mystical Ninja starring Goemon and Mystical Ninja Goemon's Adventure. And I just remembered Snowboard Kids 1 and 2.

 

[SSj_Ness (Yiffed)]

There's also Mystical Ninja starring Goemon and Mystical Ninja Goemon's Adventure.

True. People who say there's only 1st party/Rare usually haven't explored its library. It is small but it's got very few truly bad games. I assume that's because cartridges were expensive and the install base was small, so most who bothered to support N64 made at least decent products.

 

[Nameless One]

I'm getting real fucking tired of trying to find new rom sites. CDromance links are now all gone and the site is useless. Now it's on retrogametalk which requires a sign-in email. Fuck this shit man.