BaDToaD
"Very" Old Timer
This post is aimed at those of you who haven't yet taken the plunge and tried one of the 8 bit computer emulators. Don't write them off. Yes they are more awkward than the console emulators but they are also just as rewarding.
All those of you who owned Spectrums, Commodore 64s, Atari 800s, MSX, Amstrads etc know what I mean. Just because the graphics on the speccy, c64 and Atari etc aren't as pretty as some of the consoles don't think the games are crap. They aren't. In fact some of the very best games out there are on the 8 bit computers. In some instances the 8 bit version of games are more playable than the 16 bit ones.
Try encounter on the Atari 800 if you want a VERY fast paced solid graphic Battlezone type game. Or the highly original Alley Cat. Years ahead of it's time and 20 years old. Or the awesome Dropzone which makes normal defender seem boring.
On the c64 there is the classic platformer Giana Sisters that inspired the excellent Gianas Return. Ghostbusters, one of the few games based on a film that really works. Spindizzy, an excellent marble madness inspired game. Nebulus, still one of my favorite platform games some 17 years after its release.
As for the speccy. There are the excellent Dizzy games. Manic Miner. the game that more or less defined early platform games along with it's excellent follow up Jet Set Willy. 3D death chase, a kind of speeder bike race with really simple graphics that just somehow works really well. Chuckie Egg, Jetpac, SkoolDaze the list goes on for each of these systems.
These are just the systems I owned. There are many others emulated nicely on the GP32. Dragon32, MSX, Commodore Plus 4. Decent Amstrad emulation is just around the corner too.
So! What are you waiting for. There's never been a better time to get into 8 bit computer emulation. Download one of the emulators for these great systems and have a blast from the past. You won't regret it.
As for you guys that know what I'm talking about post a few of your favorites here to give them some idea of what the systems can offer.
All those of you who owned Spectrums, Commodore 64s, Atari 800s, MSX, Amstrads etc know what I mean. Just because the graphics on the speccy, c64 and Atari etc aren't as pretty as some of the consoles don't think the games are crap. They aren't. In fact some of the very best games out there are on the 8 bit computers. In some instances the 8 bit version of games are more playable than the 16 bit ones.
Try encounter on the Atari 800 if you want a VERY fast paced solid graphic Battlezone type game. Or the highly original Alley Cat. Years ahead of it's time and 20 years old. Or the awesome Dropzone which makes normal defender seem boring.
On the c64 there is the classic platformer Giana Sisters that inspired the excellent Gianas Return. Ghostbusters, one of the few games based on a film that really works. Spindizzy, an excellent marble madness inspired game. Nebulus, still one of my favorite platform games some 17 years after its release.
As for the speccy. There are the excellent Dizzy games. Manic Miner. the game that more or less defined early platform games along with it's excellent follow up Jet Set Willy. 3D death chase, a kind of speeder bike race with really simple graphics that just somehow works really well. Chuckie Egg, Jetpac, SkoolDaze the list goes on for each of these systems.
These are just the systems I owned. There are many others emulated nicely on the GP32. Dragon32, MSX, Commodore Plus 4. Decent Amstrad emulation is just around the corner too.
So! What are you waiting for. There's never been a better time to get into 8 bit computer emulation. Download one of the emulators for these great systems and have a blast from the past. You won't regret it.
As for you guys that know what I'm talking about post a few of your favorites here to give them some idea of what the systems can offer.
