Reply To: First impressions

[dr_st]

#10702

I wanted to play the game before checking what others have posted in the First Impressions thread, to see how well they match my own.

Well, these aren’t strictly “first” impressions, since my save slots tell me I had played through Alien Carnage in 2002, but I certainly didn’t remember much from the experience, except that it was mildly annoying, yet not annoying enough to get me to quit mid-game.

So… first impressions are actually not the clunky controls, but the weird fade-in/fade-out screen (ADG mentioned that as well), and the fact that with cycles=max in DOSBOX parts of the game UI are a bit too fast. Picking a difficulty usually skips me past the next screen before I can select an episode, and some of the in-game menu needs to be pressed multiple times. Of course dialing down the cycles makes it go away, so this is not a problem of the game.

What bothered me more with the jetpack mechanics is not even the momentum issues, but the collision detection when trying to enter narrow sideways passages and tunnels. About half the time you cut off the jetpack while hitting left/right directional keys, but Harry misses the platform and falls right down like a sack of potatoes. Gets annoying. However I felt I got better at it eventually.

Graphics and music feel quite nice. Pretty good for a game in 1993.

I don’t like the fact that zombies (and sometimes other enemies) respawn. It makes it hard to know which parts of the level you haven’t visited yet, and I always forget about this possibility and end up taking damage while trying to speed through previously explored parts.

And now some replies. 🙂

>> The checkpoint system and lack of mid-level saving
>> is annoying, and health pickups seem too few and
>> poorly spaced.
Health pickups absolutely cannot be relied upon. Rescuing a hostage restores all of your health at once, so this is the mechanic I ended up using (sometimes strategically keeping some easy to reach hostage for when I need it).

>> I think I have to give the win to Duke Nukem II
>> by a nose (I’m not sure why I’m so obsessed with
>> comparing these two games in particular!)
Well, they are both platform games released by Apogee in the same year (1993), both with a similar story of a hero fighting single-handedly against alien invasion, with a humorous tone, both have 4 episodes with a boss level in the end, and have some gameplay similarities too. For example – different weapons with different behaviors, jetpack concept (in Duke Nukem II it is only specific levels and ammo was limited too).

>> The graphics may be better in HH, and I don’t really
>> think it’s any more frustrating, but the levels in
>> DN2 are just more varied, interesting and memorable,
>> and that’s more important to me.
Graphics in HH are definitely better (VGA vs EGA), but I have always been very impressed with how nice DN2 managed to look with only 16 colors, and how much variety in the levels and scenery was achieved. They really did a good job!

Gameplay things I liked more in HH:
* The radar which is indispensable for finding hostages
* More weapon variety + you get to have multiple weapons at once

Gameplay things I liked more in DN2:
* Health management seems more natural with a good amount of soda cans scattered around, and at least one six-pack per level. Never mind that I beat all DN2 levels without taking a single hit (after MANY attempts!) 😛
* Secrets feel less obtuse. You usually know which things can be shot to trigger walls collapsing and new passages opening
* No stupid respawning enemies!

>> How about Bio Menace?
I liked this game and it has even more secrets and easter eggs to find, including complete secret levels. I do remember it being much harder and less forgiving, even on ‘Easy’.