Topic: Recent Retro/Misc Gaming Purchases? (Not PS4/PS5)

@nessisonett My old games are just collecting dust on a shelf while I have to move around because of my job and I have hardly the time to play the best new games. I sold my PS and PS2 games to enjoy the following generations and now I'm selling GC, WII and 360 games to enjoy the upcoming generation. I have a SNES mini in case of an old man nostalgia panic attack.
Sad and cynical, I know...

Just downloaded something called Gurumin 3D: A Monstrous Adventure on the 3DS. It's apparently a Nihon Falcom action-rpg, and it was on sale for $4.99, so I couldn't resist.

@RogerRoger The 3DS is one of my all-time favorite systems, and I use mine semi-regularly, but considering you're big on games based around licensed characters such as Spider-Man, James Bond, etc. and established Western properties like Tomb Raider, Hitman, DOOM, etc. I don't know how much of the library would appeal to you. It's really good for JRPGs, certain niche Japanese franchises, 2D platformers, and, of course, Nintendo games.

If you do end up getting one for whatever reason, though, I highly recommend checking out Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars, which was a launch title for the system and a really solid tactical RPG.

There are also a few exclusive Sonic platformers, although, not being a Sonic fan, I can't really attest to their quality one way or the other.

BTW, games always look worse in trailers/videos than they do on the actual system. Particularly when you're playing them in 3D, which grants a pleasant level of visual depth to several games.

@Ralizah That Ghost Recon was my first 3DS game alongside OoT3D and I was blown away by how good it was. One of the best Western 3DS exclusives despite being a launch title and one I’d totally recommend as well. I think the 3DS is my favourite console ever, I spent thousands of hours on it because of the BC as well.

I recently got Aliens Infestation on the DS. It's one of those games that was £5 for ages so I always put off buying it. Lo and behold it ended up not being £5, but I'm looking forward to playing it.

@RogerRoger It is a great handheld, but I know that you're not a particular fan of Nintendo games or Japanese RPGs so the value you get out of it might hinge on that. You might find some games that you'd enjoy, such as Sonic Generations (which has different levels compared to the console version). The library isn't quite as broad as the DS as it generally had less Western support.
Speaking of 3DSs, I need a new one, but they are ridiculously overpriced everywhere since Nintendo ceased production. :-/

@RogerRoger Honestly, I had a 3DS for a while (or at least access to one) and I never really got the allure. Granted, the library isn’t quite my cup o’ tea, but the unit itself wasn’t all they easy to get accustomed to. In general I’ve had trouble breaking into the Nintendo family. Not for lack of trying either. I have been playing with a friend on his Switch lately and tried the likes of Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8, Mario Odyssey, Super Smash... and it’s just really hard for me to assimilate. Again, this is more of a ‘me problem’ than a Nintendo problem. I just feel so behind and overwhelmed by it all. I’m sure newcomers to PlayStation have a similar intimidation factor when they see Kratos, Drake, Snake, and Ratchet as I do when I see Link, Mario, Pikachu and all those Fire Emblem people. It’s definitely a hard ecosystem to crack into, at least for me.

I’m still trying though, mostly due to FOMO. Buying my own Switch is still not off the table. If there were a few good new IP to start with then maybe I’d not feel so behind. I’m sure there are but I just can’t tell what’s what over there.

Edit: Speaking of breaking into unfamiliar sub genres, how’s FF7 coming along, Rog?

@RogerRoger Yeah, I’ve got my PSP games backed up to a hard drive since I have a hacked Vita. Nothing shady, it’s just an easier way to store them in an increasingly digital age. Especially since ones like FF7 Crisis Core, Tony Hawk Underground 2 Remix and Initial D Street Stage were UMD only and never had digital versions. I backup as many of my physical games as possible, I love the physical product but hardware fails and prices jack up.

@RogerRoger I will forever hold it against my brother that he was careless with some of our old GameCube discs and they’re scratched up. Although, fun fact, my Super Mario Galaxy disc used to be unplayable due to scratches but I wiped it with toothpaste and now it works, albeit with an occasional crash. Nothing will ever beat my Zelda Wind Waker disc, which allowed me to explore one of the islands for as long as I wanted but would crash as soon as I left on my boat. Hooray for disc based media 😂

@RogerRoger Even worse is that, in the States, at least, Crisis Core isn't downloadable on a Vita. And, obnoxiously enough, it's actually connected story-wise to the new Remake. Throw me a bone, Sony!

@nessisonett I've discovered that a local music shop's resurfacing machine is AMAZING for making scratched up old discs playable again. Turned a used copy of Super Mario Sunshine I bought from a tiny frisbee into something that worked like new.

@Ralizah I never even thought about that. We have loads of local music shops (hopefully, who knows with Covid) so I assume at least one of them will have a resurfacing machine. Hilariously enough, while we have stores frequented by famous faces and the like, it’s probably the charity shop that’s the most visited and the most likely to have that machine. They unintentionally because a music haven despite being across the road from the original FOPP, a pretty influential store in the 80s 😂

Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun! (Switch)
Ys I & II Chronicles+ (PC; GOG version)

7th Dragon III Code: VFD
Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight
Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth
Stella Glow

All on Nintendo 3DS.

No idea when I'm going to play all this, but I'm remembering how Sony just sort of stopped hosting sales for Vita games I wanted, and I wanted to pick these up before they suffered the same fate.

Vanquish was a couple of quid on Steam so I picked it up alongside Return of the Obra Dinn which was on a big sale too. I have a horrific backlog on PC so good to add to it 😂

@RogerRoger It’s my first time playing but I’m a big Platinum fan so it should be a fun experience!

Picked up this little collection today, there's a PS2 hidden there somewhere too

@RogerRoger I've always been a retro gamer at heart but never really had the space until moving recently. Then with the launch of PS5 and discussions over the best launch games, it just got me interested in collecting for the system, I've got a decent Saturn collection already and now with a launch PS3 can easily play the games. So at the moment it looks like this at home (before I set the PS2 up)

Oh and Astro Bot with its Playstation museum

@carlos82 Nice setup. Have you got the old consoles hooked up to the TV? I still have all my consoles in a box upstairs. I doubt my PS1 still works and it also looks ridiculous as I bought a custom sticker set to put on it (of a Ferrari F1 car FYI).

And an excellent choice of Sonic 2 on the side there

@Thrillho cheers, the PS1 isn't setup as I'm waiting for a RAD2X cable to be in stock to hook it up, either that or there's a HDMI mod that's just been released so I may pick that up in the new year. For now the PS3 handles all those games. I'm going to keep it a full Playstation setup on this TV but want a crt for my Saturn as I have the light gun, I had an old TV recently but it died on me sadly.

I found that Sonic 2 in a random box when I moved so just thought I'd keep it, I might get some Megadrive stuff next year too

@carlos82 I saw Ridge Racer Type 4 going for £4 in CEX and was so tempted to pick it up, you can get some proper brilliant retro games at a low price in there!

@nessisonett yeah I've got some bargains from there including that one, also PS2 games like Gran Turismo 3 for 50p