[jefklak]

in reply to: Which DOS games do you have on your Topsters 25 list? #7952

Excellent list, thanks for sharing!

If you would ask the 28 year younger version of myself to compile such a list, Bio Menace, the original Duke Nukum and Monster Bash would also be on that list. But now that I played the platformers on the NES, SNES, and MegaDrive that inspired these games, I just can’t overlook the fact that these are just much better. And that’s not because of the controller.

But of course each list is subjective, that’s why it’s so much fun to share with others I think.

[jefklak]

in reply to: Which DOS games do you have on your Topsters 25 list? #7929

For me such a top25 is highly personal, of course it makes sense to include deeply flawed games (objectively speaking). It’s a subjective list! It should contain games you enjoyed the most. Most topx lists from IGN, Edge, Eurogamer, … are just rubbish precisely because of that: everyone played different games and has different experiences.

I noticed that most of my entries are from release year < 2007 when I started working so there’s plenty of nostalgia bias present. I’ll try making a new list with recent ones, although that’s going to be more difficult since I stopped playing on PC!

[jefklak]

in reply to: Other DOS podcasts #7919

New Game, Old Flame regularly has DOS games on the table: https://www.newgameoldflame.com/

[jefklak]

in reply to: Thoughts #7756

I really hate those turtoise tanks! So many cheap deaths!
Thanks for your analysis taxalot, I think I agree. I’ve still got a few more episodes to explore but won’t expect to see a radical difference in gameplay.

[jefklak]

in reply to: Thoughts #7750

I gave the shareware episode another go today and have to agree with everything you’ve said.

That soundtrack, though. Even more banging than Sonic 2/3 at some points (tubelectric, anyone?)

My strategy is also blindly shooting ahead but sometimes even that doesn’t work as it seems that Jazz even catches up with his own bullets!
I prefer Jazz 2 as the resolution and size of Jazz have changed giving the player the advantage of the overview instead of the cramped resolution. This feels like playing a Sonic game on the Game Gear.

The problem with speeding through things and bumping into enemies is solved with Sonic’s spinning: just press down and everything dies (except if you land on spikes). No cigar here.

If you manage to find the bird in the levels, that thing does start hawking and “warns” you of enemies ahead, just a milisec before I see them!

[jefklak]

in reply to: Stumbling around in Albion #7025

I did a write-up on my thoughts of the game: https://jefklakscodex.com/games/pc/albion/

I realize it’s perhaps a bit harsh, but while playing it, I just missed the clearly superior games it’s based on such as Might & Magic. I might go ahead and replay one of those. That said, I highly enjoyed exploring the world and doing it together with you folks, thanks!

[jefklak]

in reply to: Stumbling around in Albion #6957

Okay, I tried it one more time, but the druid dungeon is just too much without that frost avalanche spell. I’m on the verge of giving up. I’m still underleveled and I don’t feel like running around in the jungle looking for trouble to fix this (which takes a long time, BTW). My guys constantly die and it sucks the fun out of it. And yes, Tom got sick and permanently lost skill points. Great!! 😡

One of my 2023 resolutions is not making myself finish a book or game I don’t enjoy. I’m afraid about 7 hours in, I’m gonna have to throw the towel…
I tried a god mode cheat (http://albion-hra.wz.cz/?page=cheaty) but without clipping it’s kind of useless. I’ll watch a few YouTube videos to see what I missesd.

[jefklak]

in reply to: Bio Menace #6938

Love this one as well. Never got past the first few levels, it’s insanely difficult at times – the hair-tugging head-bashing kind of insane. But hey, I’d love to replay those first levels! 😆

[jefklak]

in reply to: Stumbling around in Albion #6935

All right I got to another island by boat today!

Things already were tough but are only getting tougher. I grinded a bit before leaving but apparently not long enough. The enemies in the druid’s ruins are mark III of those flying poison things and simply decimate my party. Everyone is just a useless meatshield except for Tom and Drirr. The bow constantly breaks, bolts and arrows constantly miss or do like 1 damage, and after casting one or two spells with moderate success, the casters are sitting ducks.

Money is a big problem. I gobble up potions like mad, and 10 healing ones cost 100gp!! Trying to rest to heal doesn’t always work due to “nobody is tired yet”. I’m constantly poisoned and have to run back to the healer. My big axe broke and it cost 150gp to repair, wtf? That’s a friggin’ fortune! I can’t afford anything shiny in shops.

To be honest I’m getting a bit hung up on the lackluster RPG mechanics of Albion. Doing battle or grinding in general isn’t fun, it’s a rightclick-fest. If one enemy dies but that was also the target of another character, he/she simply stumbles and does nothing. Is there a way to see how much HP an enemy has? Is there a way to see how mechanics of weapons work? Why does equipping my axe increase damage (visible) but decrease both total and current close combat skills (???)? Why do NPCs walk around like lunatics while I have to aim my rightclick since it can’t reach far for some reason?

I guess I’ll give it another shot in the coming days.

[jefklak]

in reply to: Stumbling around in Albion #6928

Thanks all for your help! I’ve played a bit more today and found the dungeon and got Rainer incapacitated lol. We also ran out of torches which was kind of stupid. We barely made it back but sold a lot of stuff. I’ve finally been able to buy the compass (and music crystal thing) which should help with navigation.

Behind the corpse in the dungeon is another locked chest but my lockpicks were used up. I tried “examining” and using the lock a few times and got a message we escaped a trap and after 3 tries it opened. Is it worth it to go back and give the crystal? I have no idea why I bought that thing for 80gp!

IS4, your map link unfortunately doesn’t seem to work…

The murder quest is solved now but I’ll hang around a bit until I can max out the combat skills like everyone suggests.

[jefklak]

in reply to: Stumbling around in Albion #6924

Played another hour, finishing the basement thing, and for some reason, I now *can* pick “Rest” in the menu. I have no idea why. I also bought the equipment and a bow and feel a bit more capable of dealing out damage, although it’s still difficult. The healer gives potions if you say you need healing but can’t afford it.

I see very nice gear in the arms seller and there’s talk about a way to “steal” some of that, but haven’t tried that yet.